Hero waiter saves choking diner in Trim restaurant

A young Trim man has been hailed a hero after saving the life of a woman who was choking in the restaurant where he works by performing the Heimlich Manoeuvre.

Waiter Danny Connell (23) was working in the Rococo Restaurant in Trim’s Knightsbrook Hotel last Thursday evening when the drama unfolded and his quick actions saved the life of Colette Coughlan.
Colette has commended Danny for the way he reacted in the crisis situation by successfully performing the Heimlich manoeuvre and also the Knightsbrook Hotel for training staff in first aid. She herself has saved three people using the Heimlich Manoeuvre and said she cannot stress enough how important it is to know it.
“I couldn’t breathe,” recalled Colette, who lives in Trim. “I was unable to do anything. He was really on the ball. He went into superman mode. For a young guy, to have somebody there absolutely gasping for breath. He kept his wits about him, and went into action straight away. It was not a nice situation, he kept it going and didn’t stop until I took a gasp of breath.”
Colette, who works in the area of disability advocacy, recalled last Thursday evening: “I was in Rococo restaurant with somebody and Danny was serving us. He was very nice, affable and friendly and we had a chat about the menu.
“I had my starter and I had duck for my main course. I was in the middle of eating it and I knew there was food lodged and I was choking. In my own head I knew my host wouldn’t know what to do. I saw Danny standing nearby with his back to me.
“I got up. I couldn’t say anything to my host. He was unaware anything was happening, I walked up and I remember grabbing Danny’s hand and putting my back to him. He knew immediately I was in trouble. The minute I turned my back he knew what it was and started doing the Heimlich manoeuvre. 
 “There was still some food lodged. It wasn’t a case of one or two thrusts. It was deeply lodged,” recalled Colette.
All the food was finally dislodged and they sat a very shocked Colette down and gave her soda water which she said was very soothing.
“I am so grateful that the staff had training. I did a three month course in Ballymaloe years ago and the first thing they taught us the first day was the Heimlich manoeuvre. I’ve performed it three times,” said Colette.
Danny had just received his first aid training in recent months and didn’t expect he would have to use it so soon, but he quickly stepped up to the mark when he realised what was happening.
“It was the first hour of service. We weren’t too busy,” recalled Danny.
“When Colette got the food stuck, she ran over to me, knocked on my back and touched my hand. It took two or three seconds for me to realise what was happening. When she turned her back away to me, I knew she was choking. I knew first aid, we did it a month or two ago, and there was an emphasis on the Heimlich manoeuvre given that it is a restaurant and hotel.”
He told how he was quite shaken afterwards. “I was a bit shaken after. It was scary. If someone had said the day before I would react as quickly, I wouldnt have thought it. I didn’t even think.”
“It took eight or nine seconds for all the food to come out. It wasn’t as smooth as I thought it would be,” he added.
Knighstbrook Hotel Manager Patrick Curran has also commended Danny for his actions: “We are very proud of what Danny did in such a critical moment. We’ve over 25 qualified first aid staff here. It’s rare that we have to put our skills to the test and he was only recently qualified. We’re delighted he did the right thing. For a young lad of his age to step in was incredible. There have been so many positive comments about him, even his football coach said he is never shy about coming forward. He is a lovely young lad.”