Corporal David Martín decorated for saving the life of a baby in Cartagena

Corporal David Martín Álvarez, of the 73rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, has received a decoration from Cartagena City Council for saving the life of a baby in an emergency on 16 June. The award ceremony took place on 13 November during the festivities in honour of Saint Leander, patron saint of the local police.

On the aforementioned spring day the soldier was returning home when he saw a woman holding a baby boy in her arms and shouting that he was not breathing. The corporal immediately went into action. He asked that someone call the emergency services and the police and in the meantime he put the baby in the recovery position and started performing CPR. The boy responded and started to breathe again.

A few minutes later the emergency services arrived on the scene and took charge of the situation. They examined the boy and confirmed that the action taken by the soldier had saved his life. The walls of his trachea had collapsed, but when he was administered artificial respiration they reopened so he was able to breathe again.

Corporal Martín thus proved his ability to remain calm in the face of great stress and apply the technical skills acquired during the medical training Army personnel receive.