Man Choking At Chili's Saved By Off-Duty Pleasanton Officer

LIVERMORE, CA — Her cry for help was just a whisper in the crowded Chili’s Grill and Bar restaurant in Livermore. Nearby, Pleasanton police Sgt. Billdt was off duty having dinner with his family when he and several other patrons heard the elderly woman’s pleas and ran to help them.

Billdt, who was first to the table, discovered the woman’s husband slumped over in the couple's booth. Initially, Billdt thought the elderly man was suffering from a medical emergency. When he realized the man was choking, he pulled him out of the booth and quickly administered the Heimlich maneuver, saving the man’s life.

Billdt said it took about four thrusts to clear the man’s airway. Firefighters and paramedics arrived moments later and evaluated the man, who refused to be taken to the hospital.

“I was amazed by the response from the other patrons, who also ran to their aid and offered assistance while I was performing the Heimlich,” Billdt told Patch.

Although Billdt is reluctant to accept the title of hero, he said the couple was extremely grateful and thanked him repeatedly. Billdt credits his job training for preparing him to successfully rescue the man and encourages everyone to learn the Heimlich maneuver and CPR.

“I'm also extremely grateful to all of my department trainers who volunteer their time and are passionate in this area of teaching because it's their dedication as trainers that assisted in helping this male,” Billdt said.

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Billdt, 46, lives in Livermore and has worked for the Pleasanton Police Department since 2006. He was promoted to sergeant in July 2018.

Choking, which blocks the airway, hindering a person's ability to breathe, can lead to brain death within 10 minutes, and is one of the leading causes of death, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Click here to learn to perform the Heimlich maneuver on YouTube.

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