Some friendships last a lifetime, but a friendship between two Granite City first-graders saved a life.

In the middle of math class in January at Frohardt Elementary School, Benjamin Mathenia performed abdominal thrusts on his classmate Drake Wilson after he noticed Drake struggling to breathe.

Drake, 6, accidentally had swallowed a toy.

“I felt the toy in his throat,” Benjamin said.

In less than a minute, Drake’s throat was clear, and he was able to breathe again.

Benjamin, 7, knew how to perform the thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver, because his father had recently taught first aid at his Royal Rangers class. Royal Rangers is an international Christian organization for boys similar to the Boy Scouts. Robert Mathenia had demonstrated how he saved a co-worker who was choking on his lunch a couple of years ago.

“It really didn’t surprise me,” the elder Mathenia said of his son’s quick action. “He’s just a take-charge kind of kid.”

On Monday, the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross recognized Benjamin and eight other area residents as Lifesaver Award recipients. The honor has existed for more than 20 years to highlight everyday citizens who share the live-saving mission of the organization.

How the 1-inch toy Ninja that Drake had brought from home became lodged in his throat, is a matter of debate.

“He threw the toy up in the air and he tried to catch it with his tongue,” Benjamin explained.

However, Drake contends he accidentally placed the toy in his mouth.

After expelling the toy, along with some of his lunch, Drake visited the school nurse. He was back in class later that day.

“He was fine when he knew that he wasn’t in trouble,” said Principal Lori Silva, who nominated Benjamin for the award.

“We did have a talk about brining these little toys back to school,” she added.

Other local recipients were: