2-year-old boy dies after choking on cheese bread in Araraquara supermarket

Valentim Gabriel de Souza Presente, aged 2, suffered mechanical asphyxiation in a supermarket in Araraquara (SP) — Photo: Reproduction

The boy Valentim Gabriel de Souza Presente, aged 2, who died after choking on a piece of cheese bread, was buried this Wednesday afternoon (23) in the Municipal Cemetery of Bariri (SP), the family's hometown.

The accident happened in a supermarket in Vila Ferroviária, in Araraquara (SP), on Tuesday afternoon (22).

2-year-old boy dies after choking on cheese bread in the interior of SP — Photo: Prefeitura de Araraquara and TV Anhanguera

According to the incident report, the Military Police were called by a doctor from the Araraquara Central UPA, where death due to probable mechanical asphyxiation was confirmed after failed resuscitation attempts.

At the supermarket, security cameras showed family members and employees trying to choke the child. According to the Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP), the case was registered as a suspicious death.

What to do in case of choking

In October 2025, the American Heart Association (AHA) updated its official guidelines for first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and cardiovascular emergencies.

Among the main changes is how to act in cases of choking with airway obstruction, both in babies and children and in conscious adults.

👶 Step by step for babies (up to 1 year old)

Check if the baby is really choking: he can't cough, cry, breathe, changes color or becomes soft.

Support him face down on your forearm, with his head lower than his body.

Give five firm blows to the back, between the shoulder blades.

Turn the baby face up and perform five chest compressions in the center of the chest, with the heel of your hand.

Alternate the two movements until the object comes out or the baby loses consciousness.

Do not put your fingers in your mouth if the foreign body is not visible.

If the baby faints, start resuscitation (CPR): 30 chest compressions with both thumbs + 2 ventilations

👧 Step by step for children over 1 year old and adults

New guidelines include guidance on alternating back slaps with maneuvers — Photo: Reproduction/AHA

Confirm that there is complete obstruction — no coughing, sound or breathing.

Position yourself behind the victim, leaning slightly forward.

Give five firm blows to the back with the heel of your hand.

If the object does not come out, perform five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver):

Make a fist and position it above your belly button and below your breast bone.

Hold the fist with your other hand and squeeze tightly inward and upward.

Alternate blows and compressions until the object is expelled or the person loses consciousness.

If the victim faints, lay him down and begin chest compressions at the rate of traditional CPR (100 to 120 per minute).

Rescuer shows how to perform the technique with a child — Photo: Disclosure/AHA

⚠️ When to seek help immediately

If the person cannot breathe, cough or speak.

If you become unconscious.

If the object is not expelled after the maneuvers.

Always activate SAMU (192) before starting the procedures.

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