WHITBY, Ont.- A Durham Region police officer is being hailed a hero after saving the life of a five-week-old baby boy in Whitby on Friday.

Constable Adam Handscomb was 24 seconds away from the baby’s home when he got the call.

Handscomb said that when he picked up the baby, he was already purple.

“I sprinted into the house and just picked up the baby,” Handscomb said. “I didn’t really have time to think about it. Training kicked in and when the baby let out a little cry, I knew it was good news.”

He said that was the best moment he’s ever felt and it’s a moment that makes him proud to put on the uniform everyday.

Handscomb told 680News that even when paramedics arrived on scene he would not let the child leave his arms.

“I wasn’t letting go of that baby,” Handscomb explained. “(EMS asked) do you want to bring him out of the truck and I said yeah cause I’m not letting him go. I’ve got him crying now. We’ll get him in the ambulance and get him to the hospital but I don’t want to let him go.”

Fortunately, Handscomb received a refresher CPR training course earlier that day.

He said he hopes to keep in contact with the child as he grows up.

“When he’s old enough, I can say ‘you know what, there was this one day you were purple and I helped you out’,” Handscomb said.’

Handscomb, 25, grew up in Whitby and has been a cop for three years with Durham region.