Carnival Honors Crew Hero Who Saved Choking Infant at Sea

A Carnival Cruise Line restaurant manager has been recognized as a hero after saving the life of an 11-month-old infant who stopped breathing during a family cruise. His swift response during the frightening incident earned him the cruise line’s highest employee honor, the prestigious “Hero” award, highlighting the dedication of crew members who are prepared to act in life-threatening emergencies.

Milić Šarović, a restaurant manager from Montenegro, received the recognition after his decisive actions aboard Carnival Celebration helped save the young child’s life and prevented a devastating outcome.

The incident took place while the ship was* en route *to Miami. Šarović had just finished work and was sitting down for dinner in one of the ship’s restaurants when a distressed colleague rushed in asking for immediate assistance.

I sat down to eat dinner when a worker came in all upset and said something terrible was happening,” Šarović recalled in an interview with Bar Info. “I ran and saw a crowd surrounding a little girl who was showing no signs of life.”

The 11-month-old girl had choked on a grape and had become unconscious. Šarović said the child had already turned blue, while those nearby were attempting to help but had been unable to clear her airway. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, he immediately put his emergency training into practice. Taking the infant into his arms, he performed a modified choking rescue technique designed for babies.

I instinctively jumped in because no one was applying the correct maneuver,” he said. “I took her even though I didn’t know if she was alive. It was a huge responsibility, but my parental instinct was stronger.”

As the child’s parents watched in tears, pleading with him to continue, Šarović persisted in his efforts to remove the obstruction.

Maybe it lasted only a minute, but to me it felt much longer,” he said. “Then she vomited the grape she had swallowed and started breathing again. I just sat down afterward. I was completely overwhelmed.”

Medical staff arrived shortly afterward and confirmed that the baby had recovered. They credited Šarović’s prompt intervention with saving her life.

Carnival Cruise Line later presented him with its “Hero” award during a ceremony on board. The distinction is reserved for employees who display exceptional courage and professionalism in extraordinary situations.

There have been many recognitions in my career, both professionally and personally, but receiving the ‘Hero’ award after saving an 11-month-old girl from almost certain death on board is the greatest achievement of my career,” Šarović said.

The award comes after another significant achievement for Šarović. Last year, Carnival named him the company’s Best Leader, recognizing his commitment to leadership and the support he provides to fellow crew members.

His calm decision-making, professional training, and willingness to step in without hesitation transformed what could have been a tragic event into a story of hope, allowing one family to leave the cruise with gratitude and their young daughter safely back in their arms.