Autistic boy saves classmate with Heimlich manoeuvre learned from SpongeBob Squarepants

Brandon Williams sprang into action when Jessica Pellegrino began choking on an apple

Brandon Williams saved Jessica Pellegrino's life after performing the Heimlich manoeuvre (AP)

An autistic schoolboy saved the life of a classmate after copying a technique he had seen in children's TV show SpongeBob Squarepants.

Brandon Williams, who attends New York's Barnes Intermediate School, performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on Jessica Pellegrino when she spotted her choking on an apple.

The 13-year-old pulled his classmate to her feet and began performing the lifesaving manoeuvre, promptly dislodging the offending piece of fruit.

When later questioned on where he learned the technique, he told teachers he picked it up from the fictional resident of Bikini Bottom.

His father told NBC News: "With Brandon, he files things away in his head, his memory is like a sponge. I hate to put it like that. But he absorbs everything he sees,” .

Brandon and Jessica have reportedly now become inseparable, with Jessica refusing to let Brandon out of her sight.

According to NBC, the school hosted a small party in honour of the pair - with some members of staff suggesting Brandon deserved a medal.