Logan Elementary custodian hailed for saving student’s life

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - For the past three years, David Lyell, chief custodian at Logan Elementary School in Baltimore County, had been going along routinely performing his tasks to keep the building in pristine condition.

It never occurred to him that in doing so, he would be called upon to perform his greatest task ever — saving the life of a student.

But that’s exactly what happened April 23 when Lyell was summoned to the school cafeteria.

Eleven-year-old Morgan Mosley had been eating lunch when she began to choke. By the time Lyell arrived, Morgan was unconscious. He immediately began the Heimlich maneuver and dislodging the food. As the result of his quick thinking, Lyell became a hero.

On Thursday his heroism was recalled during ceremonies at Logan, where he was awarded the Baltimore County Hero Pin.  

“We don’t give hero pins out casually,” said County Executive Jim Smith, who made the presentation, “but [only] when people go above and beyond the call of duty.”

An emotion-filled Lyell said he was just reacting to an emergency situation.

“The main thing is how the situation turned out,” he said, adding that acceptance of the award was the highlight of his life.

“I’d had some CPR training in a previous job ,and it just kicked in when I went to the cafeteria,” Lyell said. “Morgan was in distress, and I knew I had to act quick. I wasn’t looking to be a hero.”

Morgan’s grandfather, Michael Pack, who works for the county fire department, Morgan’s mother and Lyell’s family were among those who attended the ceremony.

“I work with a lot of people in the fire department that have done a lot of heroic things,” Pack said. “But right now Mr. Lyell is our family’s hero because had he not been able to act as quickly and successfully as he did, this might be a different type of event.”

Morgan, who said she didn’t remember much after she started choking, said she’ll never forget Lyell’s heroism. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she told him. “You’ll never know how much I honor and respect you.”

drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com