AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Victoria House Employee Saves Choking 11 Year Old

Many businesses on the island take the opportunity to have staff members trained in first aid for the safety of their customers and their staff. The Belize Red Cross San Pedro Branch and Victoria House expressed to Ambergris Today that they are very proud of Marlon Gonzalez who has been working at the resort for the past 12 years as bellboy/driver. Just having recently obtained trained in administering first aid he saved the life of an 11-year-old-girl over the Christmas vacation in the San Mateo Area.

Marlon saved Mirna Pagoada's life on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. He heard the frantic screams of his neighbors and knew something was wrong. He explains that he did not think it twice to dash himself across the lagoon and swim to help the family in distress. Upon reaching the Pagoada's residence he found the girl unconscious in the ground and learnt that she had swallowed a marble; he immediately commenced CPR.

"There was no electricity at the house so with my flashlight in my mouth I started pumping the girl's chest because she was all purple and not breathing," stated a proud Marlon. "I ordered her brother to get the dory ready and he took us across the lagoon till we reached Holy Cross. All this while I was giving CPR to Mirna. When we reached, I grabbed her and carried her over the bridge, put her in a taxi and continued chest compressions until we reached the doctor's office."

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the Ambergris Today

Roman Gonzalez saves a young girl from choking

San Pedro Red Cross initiative to educate islanders in CPR and first-aid paid off when Roman Gonzalez saved a young girl from choking to death after swallowing a marble. Gonzalez, a Victoria House Resort employee, had recently been certified by Bandage International about three weeks from that fated Tuesday, December 31st evening. To honor his' noble act, the San Pedro Red Cross held a small recognition ceremony on Monday, January 20th at the Victoria House Resort.

The incident occurred at around 6:30PM while Gonzalez was leaving his home in the San Mateo Area. According to Gonzalez, when he stepped out of his house, he heard screams coming from his neighbor's home. He quickly went over to try and render assistance. He discovered that one of his neighbors' daughters, Mirna Pagoada, had swallowed a marble and was choking. Gonzalez noted Mirna on the floor apparently unconscious. Due to his recent CPR training, Gonzalez knew he had to pump the girl's chest and give her mouth to mouth resuscitation in order to unblock the trachea and enable her breathing.

Gonzalez, along with the family, escorted young Mirna to Ambergris Hope Clinic to receive further medical attention from Dr. Daniel Gonzalez. Along the way to the clinic, Gonzalez continued to give Mirna CPR. Dr. Gonzalez certified that the marble was no longer stuck to Mirna's trachea and that her life was no longer in danger, that her body would just expel the marble naturally. Thanks to Gonzalez' assistance, young Mirna was saved.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun

We are all so proud of Marlon Gonzalez for saving Mirna Graciela Paguada on New Years Eve. He is an amazing man and a true hero.

The Paguada family was delightful, they were very excited to be included and loved having professional photographer Karen Brodie do a special photo shoot for them to commemorate the moment.

As I watched two of the 4 youngest kids playing on the beach at Victoria house that day while Karen took pictures, it really hit home thinking about how they all started off 2014 still having their big sister thanks to Marlon's fast action and first aid skills.

Thank you to Victoria house for understanding the importance of regularly sending their staff for first aid training.

Also grateful that Lara [Romantic Travel Belize] hitched a ride that day and learned of Marlon's incredible story.

Director General of the Belize Red Cross was very pleased after seeing Marlon's video interview and Lara's write up. She said she will be highlighting this success of the San Pedro Branch in her next report to the The International Federation of Red Cross International Federation of Red Cross headquarters that supports the 80 delegations that carry out humanitarian work worldwide. Yay team.

Below are links to both Video's on Marlon's account of how he saved 10 year old Mirna Graciela Paguada from choking on a large marble. When he got to her she had fainted and was turning blue. He performed CPR on land and on a boat, got her responsive and to Doctor Dan's office. Amazing work Marlon.

The amazing story of how Marlon Gonzalez saved Mirna Graciela Paguada's life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpLxiw-Gq98&feature=c4-overview&list=UUexwLhft_5AhEK9Mr4Mm17A

Take two outside version Marlon's story of saving Mirna Graciela Paguada's life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JZsplvQswQ&feature=c4-overview&list=UUexwLhft_5AhEK9Mr4Mm17A

marlon you are THE MAN....great job

tim & kris