Watsonville Baby Saved By Santa Cruz County Deputy

WATSONVILLE, CA — A Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputy saved the life of a six-month-old Watsonville baby who had stopped breathing.

Deputy Christopher Jones, who works in South County, headed to a Watsonville home after a 911 caller reported a baby girl was unconscious, the sheriff's office announced last week.

Jones headed to the home and beat paramedics by six minutes, the sheriff's office said. The baby's mother was holding her baby in the backseat of her car.

Mother Rita handed Jones the baby. He held her face-down in his arm and began patting her back, dislodging milk and mucus from her airway. Paramedics arrived and determined no further care was needed.

Jones returned to visit the family days later.

"We are grateful that this call ended with tears of joy thanks to Deputy Jones’ quick thinking," the sheriff's office said.