Restaurant Manager Saves Customer With Heimlich Maneuver

DEERFIELD, IL - An assistant manager at Boston Blackie’s restaurant in Deerfield was given an award by the Deerfield Police Department recently for saving the life of a customer.

Hector Garcia ran from behind the restaurant’s bar on Aug. 3 when he saw David Kalfen choking and administered the Heimlich maneuver, according to a report in the Deerfield Review. Kalfen was turning blue after choking on something. The Buffalo Grove man said he didn’t fully swallow a pill earlier in the day.

"He was all red and purple and not breathing," Garcia said. "I gave him the Heimlich maneuver and nothing happened. I did it again and some stuff came out. I grabbed him again and more stuff came out and he started breathing. He said, 'OK.' Two minutes later the cops were here."

Deerfield police lauded Garcia for his heroism.

More via the Deerfield Review

Photo via the Deerfield Police Department