A Latino boy saves the life of a classmate with a technique he saw on television: "I didn't know what to do, so I just did it"

By Elise Solé -

A 7-year-old Latino boy saved a drowning classmate in New York by performing a first aid technique he learned on the television series

David Diaz Jr. saw his friend DeAndre choking on food he just ate while eating lunch at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Binghamton in May.

The young man jumped out of his chair and began to perform the Heimlich maneuver, which allows the airway to be released.

This technique involves standing behind the person who is choking, placing a clenched fist just above the navel, grasping the fist with the other hand, and pressing out the object that is obstructing breathing.

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"I didn't know what to do, so I just did it," the boy told the Fox & Friends television show, "I did it because everyone in life has to be saved."

David Díaz Jr. poses with his father, David Díaz (left), and Republican Senator Fred Akshar, who presented the award from the New York State Senate. Courtesy of Senator Fred Akshar's Office via TODAY

The young man said that he had seen how the maneuver was done in

.

“It's a series about a boy who knows a lot about bodies.

When he grows up, he becomes a doctor,” he explained.

His father, David Díaz, claimed to be "very proud" of his son.

The heroic gesture was applauded by Republican Senator Fred Akshar, who presented him with the New York Senate Commendation Award, intended for those who do exceptional things for their community.

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"We are proud to present David with the award for exemplifying what it means to be a hero in his community," the senator told NBC News' TODAY show.

Although the boy is a great follower of the medical series, he hesitates to follow in his protagonist's footsteps when he grows up: "I want to be a basketball player," he revealed.