Mount Pleasant teacher who saved student from choking to death recognized by Red Cross (2024)

MOUNT PLEASANT — A Carolina Park Elementary teacher who saved a choking student’s life last February was presented with the Red Cross Lifesaving Award on May 31.

Fifth-grade teacher Johnnie Williams was presented with the award in front of a school-wide assembly.

Hundreds of students cheered when Lowcountry American Red Cross Executive Director Brent Patrick handed Williams the plaque honoring her quick-thinking and life saving action.

Patrick said Williams’ actions exemplified the Red Cross’s Mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.

The Red Cross Lifesaving Award is presented to those who have no obligation to respond to an emergency but do so anyway.

“While it’s rare that we actually have to save someone’s life, in those instances, it’s amazing that people jump in and do the right thing. Mrs. Williams had the opportunity to save Mason’s life and she did just that,” Carolina Park Principal Michael Antonelli said.

Though when Williams recounted the day she performed the Heimlich maneuver on her student Mason Eikevik and saved the young boy’s life, it was clear she felt a strong obligation to save him.

“I’m truly honored to be recognized for something that I feel is part of my job, my duty as a teacher of keeping the kids safe,” Williams said.

When Eikevik indicated to her in class that he was choking, Williams recalled her previous Red Cross training. She quickly began performing the abdominal thrusts that successfully dislodged a hard candy stuck in the student’s airway.

“I had another kid go down to the nurse’s office and get the school nurse and within a few thrusts, the blue Jolly Rancher came out. Mason was certainly relieved and just grateful,” Williams said.

Perhaps even more grateful for Williams’ actions were Eikevik’s parents, Mariesa and Brian.

“I think it’s tremendous to know that you’ve got teachers that are educated, but not just educated on what to do but just to spring into action the way she did. Obviously, we were devastated when we heard the news, but we were just so relieved that she was available and knowledgeable and able to spring into action the way that she did,” Brian Eikevik said.

As the school celebrated their colleague, the Eikeviks watched tearfully from the sidelines, filled with gratitude for the woman who is the reason their son is here today. Williams and the Eikeviks tightly embraced after the ceremony concluded.

“It’s everything to us. It’s not something you expect to happen at school, but it did, and the fact that she knew exactly what to do is everything to us,” Mariesa Eikevik said.

Reach Anna Sharpe at 843-806-6790.