CHP officer reunites with child he saved for first day of preschool

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — In 2021, the Loya family had just moved to Campo when Vincent wanted to join his dad doing home repairs in the bathroom.

When his parents said no, they were expecting a tearful tantrum. They never expected what happened next.

“He was walking towards me and he just kind of fell down and then I just kept looking at him to see what was going on and I picked him up and he just started changing color,” said his mother Rebeca Loya.

After Vincent stopped breathing, he wasn’t choking, but he was suffering a medical emergency. His parents knew he needed help fast.

“I couldn’t get him to respond so we called 911,” said his father, Larry Loya.

The Loya family was in an unfamiliar place in a new community, unsure of where the nearest fire station was. They were frantically driving, looking for help when they ran into Officer Edward Ketchum on Buckman Springs Road.

“The gentleman, he said, ‘my baby’s not breathing,’ and the wife handed me the child,” Ketchum said.

Ketchum’s training kicked in immediately.

“I took the child, placed him upside down and initiated what we call back blows. After three back blows, the young man started crying and, oh my god, the best cry you could ever hear,” said Ketchum.

“It was relief but still, still scared,” said Larry Loya.

Larry and Rebeca Loya say they are thankful, and that there have been no long-term complications from the incident. They’ve kept in contact with Ketchum throughout the years.

“I talked with him. I seen him on the side of the road I’ll pull over and talk to him,” said Larry Loya.

Today with a gift in hand, he joined them for a big milestone Vincent’s first day of preschool.

“There are meaningful moments particularly for the parents,” said Ketchum.

The Loyas are incredibly grateful for Ketchum’s actions on that scary day.

“It’s a relief knowing there’s somebody out there like that that can help, especially out here in the sticks,” said Larry Loya.

“You always wonder, did you have the opportunity to save a life? Questions you will never get the answers to, but on that particular day you knew the answer and the answer was yes. You saved someone’s life,” Ketchum said.

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