Nov 11, 2015 2 min read

CANONSBURG – Two Canonsburg police officers were recognized Monday for saving the life of a 15-year-old boy who was choking on food while suffering an epileptic seizure at his home last month.

Officers Anthony Cancilla and Brian DaPra, both of whom have been full time for less than a year, were recognized during Monday’s borough council meeting. Cancilla was named a full-time officer in December while DaPra was hired in September. Both had worked part time in the department.

Police were dispatched Oct. 4 to an apartment on Duquesne Avenue after getting a call from the mother of a 15-year-old boy choking on food and unable to breathe. Cancilla, who arrived first, saw the boy was turning blue. Her performed stomach thrusts on the boy and was able to clear some of the food from the boy’s mouth. When he attempted to clear more, the boy’s jaw reportedly clenched shut due to the seizure.

DaPra and Officer Louis Bailey arrived to assist. DaPra also did a stomach thrust and the boy began to breathe. When an ambulance crew arrived to transport the 15-year-old to Children’s Hospital of UPMC of Pittsburgh, his breathing was returning to normal.

“They did an excellent job,” said police Chief Al Coghill. “From what I understand, the boy’s airway was totally obstructed.”

“We have other officers who have done extraordinary jobs in serving the people of the borough,” he added. “Too often what they do goes unnoticed, but we plan to make more of these commendations to let the public know what good officers we have here.”