Helpless kids started crying seeing their dad choke on a Mozzarella stick—pregnant mom's clever move saved his life
Pregnant women are real-life superheroes. Their ability to create life, despite all the challenges, makes them truly remarkable. But some mothers go beyond just giving life; they save lives, too. Here’s the brave story of a six-months-pregnant woman whose quick thinking helped save her husband’s life.
A family was having their dinner when the husband, Dan, choked on a mozzarella stick. "I was eating a chili cheese dog with a mozzarella stick," Dan told Inside Edition. His wife, Samantha Matthews, added, "He layers a mozzarella stick on top of the corn and cuts it up and eats them together." Unfortunately, Dan's favorite meal turned out to be a nightmare when he choked on a mozzarella stick. In the heart-stopping security footage captured, Dan was seen struggling to catch a breath, and was seen rushing to the bin to take the mozzarella stick out. His wife, Samantha, quickly notices that something is wrong, pats him on the back, and asks if he is okay. However, when he gestured no, she did not wait a second to take over.
Despite being six months pregnant, Samantha quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver. But when she realized her baby bump was in the way, she cleverly turned to the side and positioned herself to protect both her husband and their unborn child. Luckily, her efforts paid off, as Dan was able to get out of the scary situation. The security footage even caught Samantha wrapping her arms around her two kids as they appeared shaken from the whole ordeal they’d just witnessed. While the family now laughs about the chaos, in that moment, it was pure panic. In a study authored by Shunsuke Kuroda in 2024 for the Journal of Nippon Medical School, the researchers analyzed 1,947 choking cases from Japan’s National EMS database and found that the Heimlich maneuver successfully relieved airway obstruction in 46.6% of cases. The success rate was notably higher (around 60%) in children under 15 years and in patients who remained conscious, underscoring the maneuver’s life-saving potential when applied promptly and correctly.
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Soon after the couple posted the security footage on social media, many of their followers on Instagram hailed the young mother for her quick thinking. @yourfertiltyadvocate commented, “Omg! I can’t stop watching this! This was intense, but you handled it so amazing!!”
@alyssa.renee20 commented, "I'm sure you wouldn't be posting unless everything was okay, but I'm hoping he's doing better now and y'all are all good! ❤️❤️ good job for your quick action and keeping everybody safe!"
@michelaysab1726 commented, “Omggg 😮 thank heavens for you! She’s like, 'not on my watch!'”