NCAA Football

Another (Former) College Football Player Saves A Restaurant Patron With The Heimlich

Hey – we’re writing about choking and I don’t have to mention the 2011 Red Sox or Braves! (Well, except for that comment.)

No, this story fits better in the PSA category, because for the second time in less than a week, a college football player has sprung to action to save a fellow diner’s life by performing the Heimlich Maneuver. The first was a week ago, when at Lawry’s Beef Bowl (the pre-Rose Bowl meat-off between the competing schools), Oregon tackle Mark Asper sprang to action to assist a choking patron at the event. The second, according to a story from Chestnut Hill, involves Billy Flutie, former Boston College receiver and nephew of the school’s patron saint, Doug Flutie.

The Boston Herald reported:

Seems the 2010 BC grad was having lunch at his neighborhood Applebee’s when he noticed that another patron was choking on his chicken nugget.

Billy “rushed to his aid” and “applied a life-saving Heimlich Maneuver,” dislodging the nugget and saving the choking diner, the press release says.

“Something happened really quickly, I helped out and it was over,” the modest Eagle told us.

Kind of like a first aid Hail Mary …

Asper is 6’7″, 325 pounds. Flutie, in his last season at BC in 2010, was listed at 6’2″, 186. This tale of the tape is pretty obvious in terms of the broken rib prevention, but kudos to both young men for stepping in and providing the help needed. And kids, pay attention in high school health classes. Many more incidents like this, and some recruiting service will be grading you on what you learn.