Man Dies After Choking at Acton Restaurant

A man died after choking on food at an Acton restaurant Wednesday, police said.

He was identified as Douglas Wardwell, 41, of Concord.

Police said they received a 911 call at about 2:20 p.m. that Wardwell was choking outside Tailgaters on Great Road. Rescue personnel found him unresponsive and performed CPR. Wardwell was transported to Emerson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses say he began choking on food and stepped out into the parking lot, where he vomited. He continued to have trouble breathing so another patron attempted to performed the Heimlich maneuver on him until rescue personnel arrived, police said.

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