A Hillsborough County deputy was honored Friday for saving a 15 month-old by using infant CPR.

  • Incident occurred on Nov. 4
  • Child stopped breathing while mother was there to get driver's license
  • Deputy had just been re-certified in infant CPR three weeks earlier

The incident occurred at the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s office on Hillsborough Avenue November 4.

Surveillance video showed the mother, Shakira Nelson, carrying her lifeless son Corey into the building. She was there to get her driver’s license when her son stopped breathing.

The video then shows Deputy Steve Donaldson giving Corey chest compressions. He said about 20 seconds passed before Corey woke up.

“When I had Corey in my arms, I said a little prayer, and I said, “God, give me strength to save this baby,” said Donaldson.

As luck would have it, Deputy Donaldson was recertified in infant CPR just three weeks earlier.

“He’s the best baby. He didn’t whine or cry when he came back,” said Donaldson. “I was whispering in his ear, and just said, “You scared me!”

In another twist of fate, the deputy wasn’t even supposed to be working in that office that day. He was filling in for another deputy when Corey needed help.

Deputy Donaldson received an award for his actions on Friday from the Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office, and a big 'thank you' from Corey and his family. Though the recognition was appreciated, Donaldson made it clear it was an experience he'd like never to repeat.

“I’d rather approach a gang of bank robbers, to be honest with you, then have to do CPR again on an infant,” said Donaldson.

Corey’s mother Shakira says she will continue to bring him back to visit with Donaldson, and will remind Corey that the Hillsborough deputy saved his life.