A Grade 6 student in Cape Breton who saved a classmate from choking to death in April was honoured Monday with the Save A Life Award from the Heimlich Institute.

Tristan Unsworth, 11, was cheered by the 280 students at Mountain View Elementary School in Howie Centre when he was given the award during a special presentation.

School principal Jeannie Stone read the citation signed by Dr. Henry J. Heimlich: "Tristan had the courage and knowledge to use the manoeuvre to save the life of a victim."

The life Tristan saved was that of Travis Hayes, a classmate and friend.

"I feel really happy because he really deserves to get it for saving my life," Travis said of his friend's award.

Tristan learned his lifesaving skills in February through a babysitting course offered at his school. Since that fateful day when he successfully popped a peppermint out of Travis's throat, Stone said a lot of other children have asked to take the course, too.

"What he did really led a lot of our students to ask for the babysitting course again. Not all the Grade 6s signed up for it, so we offered the course again," Stone said. "And every single Grade 6 student, the rest of them, signed up."

Back in April, Tristan modestly described what he did to save his friend's life.

"I just went over and did it to him, and then it eventually came out," Tristan said. "Then I just walked back over to my seat and just sat down."

School staff have since revamped their emergency response plans.