High School Senior Saves Man's Life by Administering the Heimlich Maneuver at Steakhouse: 'Perfect Timing'
A Michigan high school senior's recent education in the Heimlich maneuver came in handy last week.
Natalie May, a student at East Kentwood High School, saved a man's life through the technique while working as a waitress at Brann's Steakhouse and Grille in Grand Rapids, Fox affiliate WXMI reported.
The incident happened on Tuesday, March 11, as May was cleaning a table at the steakhouse when she heard a woman yelling that her husband was choking.
Related: Fla. Teen Saves Baby's Life After Learning CPR in High School: 'It Was Extremely Intense'
May told WXMI that she didn't hesitate and started applying the Heimlich on the victim. She had only recently become certified in CPR after learning the Heimlich on a mannequin as part of her high school's health curriculum.
"It's different than in person, actually, because the mannequin is like, half of a body," May recalled, WXMI reported. "So, like, you don't really get the whole feeling or sensation of a real person.'
May's co-worker, Kristina Thrash, told WXMI that the victim's size was large, so much so that his wife wasn't able to wrap her arms around him to do the Heimlich. Thrash also spoke with the man who said the way May applied the technique was a life-saver.
Related: Mom Uses CPR to Save Newborn After Voice Wakes Her, Telling Her 'Look at the Baby'
'It's just very emotional, I guess… just shocking to me that I was able to do that for someone, especially someone 10 times bigger than me," May later recalled to the news station.
May's heroic actions earned her praise from Brann's Steakhouse and Grille, who shared a March 11 Facebook post featuring a photo of May and the person she saved, identified as Joe.
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'Talk about perfect timing - Natalie had class this week which taught the Heimlich Maneuver,' read the post. 'She was able to help Joe… He was extremely thankful and didn't mind taking a quick picture. Thank you to Natalie for going above and beyond to help what he called 'saving his life!' "
Related: You Can Save a Life with Hands-Only CPR: 'You Don't Have to Do Mouth-to-Mouth Anymore'
Kentwood Public Schools also paid tribute to May in a social media on Monday, March 17, writing in part: 'Her quick-thinking and training are credited with saving the man's life. We are so proud of Natalie for stepping in to save a life.'
Invented by Dr. Henry Heimlich in 1974, the maneuver, which involves upward thrusts under the ribcage, is a first-aid method to dislodge food and objects from choking victims. Its success rate is about 86.5%, according to the National Library of Medicine
PEOPLE contacted May through Brann's Steakhouse for additional comment on Tuesday, March 18, but they did not immediately respond.
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