A LIFE-SAVING DINNER My family and I went to a new and fairly busy Italian restaurant. After a long day at work, we looked forward to a pizza and a quiet evening. We began our dinner. A number of nearby tables had already been occupied, one near the street window occupied by a married couple aged in their late fifties. All of a sudden, I heard sounds of distress coming from their table. My family and i
My family and I went to a new and fairly busy Italian restaurant. After a long day at work, we looked forward to a pizza and a quiet evening. We began our dinner. A number of nearby tables had already been occupied, one near the street window occupied by a married couple aged in their late fifties. All of a sudden, I heard sounds of distress coming from their table.
My family and I ignored the sounds for about 20 seconds, thinking that waiters would attend to the problem. Somebody had to attend to the gentleman who by now was turning another shade of deep pink and needed air. Now no restaurant staff did anything. Somebody had to help, and his wife was in distress, trying to give her husband water.
I got up and performed what is known as the Heimlich maneuver, which I had never performed. In doing this, I managed to dislodge a very tough piece of steak from the man’s throat. After he recovered, a very grateful man explained that he was about to become unconscious. He was a doctor who thanked me and pointedly said he was not going to finish his steak. No staff in this restaurant knew what had occurred that night. I did and still feel good about having assisted someone like this.
