The Good Samaritan Files: Life-saving work at Valley Forge Baptist Temple

A five-minute ordeal took members of Collegeville's Valley Forge Baptist Temple from the depths of terror to the highest peaks of joy when two church members saved Jeremy Bacon, 7, from choking, according to an ABC report.

Jeremy and some other children were playing the "Chubby Bunny" game, which involves trying to talk through a mouthful of marshmallows, when one of the marshallows got stuck in Jeremy's throat, ABC states.

Jeremy's father, Charles, stuck his fingers down Jeremy's throat to pull out the candy, and Jeremy "clamped down" on the fingers, breaking his two front teeth according to ABC. Jeremy lost consciousness, the report continues. Frantic, Charles took Jeremy back into the church for help.

According to church Pastor Scott Wendal, he became aware of the situation 30 minutes after the service, when the assistant pastor’s wife “came in like Paul Revere,” asking if anyone was a doctor, nurse or knew CPR, Wendal said in a phone interview last week.

“There’s a little boy choking,” she had said.

Pottstown resident and church member Emily Connolly went down the hallway to education wing, and her husband, Mike, followed, Wendal said. Emily Connolly is an x-ray technician, and the couple is certified in CPR, according to ABC.

 When Wendal arrived, Emily had unsuccessfully tried to dislodge the candy and her husband also tried to assist.

“Mike dropped his own child and grabbed Jeremy and he began Heimlich,” Wendal said.

Charles was distraught throughout the ordeal, saying, “I’m losing my son!” Wendal recalled.

On seventh thrust, Jeremy began breathing, according to Wendal. Jeremy cried only briefly, Wendal said, and was “coherent” when his father asked him questions.

Everything transpired before the ambulance arrived; emergency personnel remarked, “You did our job for us,” Wendal said.

Jeremy was checked for bruised ribs, and was relatively uninjured except for his broken front teeth, according to Wendal.

The church is holding a CPR class for members only Feb. 12.