Clearwater Sergeant's Quick Action Saves Diner From Choking

CLEARWATER, FL – It was fortunate for one resident that a Clearwater Police sergeant happened to be at the right place at the right time.

Shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, Clearwater Police Sgt. Corey Lenczden was waiting for his food order at the Chick-fil-A at Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Old Coachman Road when a diner who was clearly in distress struggled toward him.

While enjoying a breakfast burrito, the diner began to choke and instinctively sought the one person in the restaurant he knew had the training to help him.

When the customer approached, struggling to breathe, Lenczden grasped the problem right away. He promptly wrapped his arms around the man and performed the Heimlich Maneuver to dislodge the food stuck in the man’s upper airway.

Lenczden’s first two efforts were unsuccessful. But, when he performed the life-saving measure a third time, he lifted the man off the flood, clearing the man’s blocked airway.

"Everyone in the restaurant stopped what they were doing and started watching," Lenczden said. "You could have heard a pin drop."

The 62-year-old man, who did not want to be identified, said he just naturally headed toward the person wearing a police officer’s uniform when he started choking.

"I saw him standing there," he said. "I figured he would probably know what to do."

It didn’t hurt that Lenczden is a big guy: 6 feet 3 inches tall and 260 pounds. The choking victim figured he’d certainly have the strength needed to clear his airway.

"He's a big guy,” said the man. “I didn't pick some little old lady to do it."

"It worked out," Lenczden said. "I'm glad for the guy."

Image via Clearwater Police