Gasping for air, 4th grader Ali Saleh, 9, ran to Hassan for help while in class after he choked on a grape. 

“I was feeling like I was going to die,” he said. 

Hassan told WXYZ Channel 7 that training she had 10 years ago allowed her to act swiftly. 

“So, I bent him over the garbage can and I’m like bang, nothing came out,” Hassan said. ”So, I’m like maybe he’s going to throw up and then I banged again and this huge grape flew out of his mouth.”

Saleh’s family said they are grateful for his teacher’s actions.  “We are so very thankful,” said Ali’s sister Mariam. “It’s great to know he’s in good hands.”

Hassan said she would like to conduct training with the rest of the staff at the elementary school in case of future emergencies.