Heroic cop conduct life-saving CPR to baby on the brink of death: ‘Please don’t stop breathing’

In a heart-pounding moment captured in a viral video, a Tennessee police officer, Robert Baer, demonstrated extraordinary dedication by administering life-saving CPR to a baby on the brink of death.

Reflecting on this remarkable incident that transpired on August 31 in Murfreesboro, Officer Baer shared his thoughts, saying, “Just don’t be the one to let this kid die, that’s what was going through my head,” in an interview with News Channel 5.

The emergency began when a distressed couple made a frantic call to 911 around 2 a.m., reporting that their one-year-old son, Zaire Brown, had stopped breathing. As they rushed to the hospital, the authorities on the call instructed them to halt and requested immediate medical assistance.

Fortuitously, Officer Baer, a member of the Murfreesboro police department, was in the vicinity and received the alert over his radio, as reported by WSMV. Without hesitation, he sped to the location and was flagged down by Zaire’s father.

Baer vividly described the moment, saying, “[I just saw] an older man running in the road waving his arms at me,” and added, “at that point, he handed me a one-year-old that wasn’t breathing.”

With precious seconds slipping away, the courageous officer initiated CPR on the child at the roadside. The accompanying bodycam footage captured Baer’s determined efforts as he administered chest compressions while reassuring the little boy to “stay with him.”

In the background, the father’s desperate pleas of “Please don’t stop breathing” underscored the urgency of the situation. Baer’s initial attempt to revive Zaire proved unsuccessful, so he persisted, determined to save the child’s life. He recounted the tense moments, saying, “I picked him up and his eyes rolled in the back of his head, and that’s when I sat him back down; he wasn’t breathing again, so I started chest compressions again.”

Throughout the ordeal, Baer’s thoughts remained focused on one thing: his own three-year-old child at home. He remarked, “I’m thinking, I have a three-year-old at home, that’s what I’m thinking about.”

After what felt like an eternity, Baer successfully resuscitated Zaire. In the video clip, a relieved Baer can be heard saying, “1145 the baby’s breathing. Baby whimpering.”

Reflecting on the intense experience, Baer expressed relief, stating, “I felt relief, I don’t know how long I did compressions,” and added, “In that situation, it feels like forever.”

Emergency medical services (EMS) and the fire department noted that the outcome could have been tragically different without Baer’s timely intervention, a fact underscored by Baer himself in an interview with News Channel 5.

A month later, Baer had the opportunity to meet Zaire’s mother, Marchelle Brown, under much happier circumstances. During this emotional reunion, she expressed her profound gratitude, saying, “I really appreciate it and thank you very much that you saved my son.” Brown, who had tragically lost another child in 2020, called Zaire a “miracle” and expressed her immense pride in him.

Baer shared that he feels a strong bond with Zaire and plans to continue checking in on him, as per the mother’s request. This experience has left an indelible mark on him, prompting him to want to ensure his own son’s well-being, stating, “I’ll never forget the things that took place, the sound he made when he started breathing.”