Toddler who choked on octopus recovering

A two-year-old Kansas boy is recovering after he was taken to the hospital with an octopus lodged in his throat, police said Thursday.

The two-year-old’s mother told police she came home from work on Tuesday to find her boyfriend administering CPR to the child, according to Wichita Police Lt. James Espinoza.

The child, who was not breathing, was brought to the hospital where doctors removed the head of a small octopus.

Authorities said the octopus may have been intended for sushi,  The Wichita Eagle reported. 

Espinoza said the boyfriend, identified as Matthew Gallagher, was taken into police custody Wednesday on suspicion of child abuse after his story about how the boy swallowed the octopus and sustained minor facial injuries did not corroborate with the evidence.

Gallagher was released on bond Thursday, the Eagle reported.

Espinoza said the child abuse investigation is ongoing and that once the child recovers a detective will interview him about what happened.

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