Policemen who saved baby's life: “That's why we joined the force”

Ruymán Díaz Miranda (pictured right) has been a policeman for 10 years, and he talked to Spanish media after he and fellow officer Juanjo Jiménez Palomo (pictured left) got a call whilst patrolling near Valencia's main station.

“A mum had a child who was unconscious and not responding, on the C/ Cuba in the Russafa neighbourhood,” Díaz Miranda said.

“We drove off at speed in the wrong direction, against oncoming cars.

“The family had come down onto the street when we got there.

“I turned the baby over to see if he had a foreign body in his nose or mouth, then asked what had happened to him. She said she had put nose-drops in him and he had started to convulse. So I started CPR with my fingers.

“After eight or 10 seconds the baby started to open his eyes again, but then had another fit and his eyes rolled back and he was completely still, so I had to revive him again.

“I did this 10, 15 or 20 times in 20 minutes.”

Jiménez Palomo said he focused on keeping everyone at arm's length, since six or seven relatives were all trying to take the baby, and on calling the 112 emergency hotline to get paramedics on the scene.

The baby, 54 days old, had bronchitis, and had had an adverse reaction to the nose-drops, causing his bronchial sacs to close up.

Trying to revive a baby rather than a full-grown human is a much more delicate exercise and Ruymán had to remain calm and focused.

“If you're in a state of shock, the child could die,” he explained.

“At the end of the day, this is the reason why we become police officers: to save lives. I've got a child, and I knew I couldn't just give 100% of myself; I had to give 200%.”

Ruymán said he was practically begging the infant to vomit and praying he would survive, as he 'could not bear it' if he lost his life.

“Then, suddenly, the baby looked at me – then his eyes went again. That night, I didn't sleep a wink. The following day, when we heard the baby was much better, it was a weight lifted off our shoulders.”

Despite their years of experience, Juanjo and Ruymán have not come up against a situation quite like this.

Juanjo said he once had an unconscious baby to attend to, but that he was 'two streets from the hospital' and simply took him there – and another time, he had to attend to a woman in labour, but 'the ambulance arrived in time'.

Ruymán said he rescued a drowning man from the sea in Cullera, about 40 kilometres south of Valencia, five years ago when he was off duty and with his wife and son, but has not had to do likewise for a child before, let along a newborn baby.

Photograph: National Police