VIDEO: Turkish restaurant owner saves customer from choking using the Heimlich manoeuvre

A restaurant owner in the Reyhanli district of Hatay province, Türkiye, saved a customer after a piece of meat became lodged in his airway while he was eating a doner kebab with his family, according to the website Ensonhaber.

The incident occurred inside the restaurant when the customer, whose identity has not been revealed, began choking and was unable to breathe after a piece of meat became stuck in his airway.

Restaurant owner Sami Sakin, 46, quickly intervened and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre. After three or four attempts, he successfully dislodged the piece of meat, allowing the customer to breathe normally again.

The Heimlich manoeuvre is a first-aid technique used to help a choking person when food or another foreign object blocks the airway. It involves standing behind the person, placing a fist just above the navel and below the ribcage, and delivering firm inward and upward thrusts to help expel the obstruction.

Sakin said he was busy working on the accounts during a hectic day at the restaurant when he heard a scream from inside.

He rushed to the scene and found that a customer was struggling to breathe while his family members were attempting to help him by patting him on the back.

Sakin said he immediately remembered the Heimlich manoeuvre he had learned at school and quickly stepped in to help. He performed the manoeuvre several times until the piece of meat was dislodged, allowing the customer to breathe normally again.

He added that this was not the first time he had intervened to save someone using the same manoeuvre.