Good Samaritan speaks out after saving child

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A South Florida man is being hailed a hero after running to the aid of a child hit by a vehicle as he crossed the street with his grandfather.

Franz Jean Claude is an ICU nurse at Aventura Hospital. On Friday night, he was driving to the gym when he saw 6-year-old Keenan on the ground, unresponsive. "There was no pulse, not breathing, and immediately I started CPR," said Claude.

Keenan and his grandfather were hit by a car while crossing the street on Northwest 125th Street and Second Avenue.

Claude said he sprung into action and asked someone for a piece of paper to administer CPR, as the child's mouth was covered in blood. "So when I couldn't do mouth to mouth, CPR, I asked someone that was passing by to give me a sheet of paper," said Claude. "And I made a hole in the middle and I opened it, and I had a hole that covered the child's mouth. And I put my mouth over the top. When I gave him the breath, his chest raised, and I kept on doing CPR again."

According to police, the vehicle that hit Keenan and his grandfather stayed on the scene.

Keenan's family members personally thanked the man who they call their hero. "On behalf of the mother, I'm just letting you know that you saved his life," said a family member. "She said, by God's grace her son's life was saved, and he sent you to do that. She wanted me to give you a hug and a kiss to let you know as soon as she's able to, she's going straight to you to tell you thank you."

Keenan remains at Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition. His grandfather was released from the hospital. He suffered minor injuries.

Claude will be honored in North Miami Tuesday night. "I feel so grateful that God gave me the ability to save this child's life," said Claude.

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