School staff performed the Heimlich on a choking elderly teacher who calmly walked to his door — what he realized next left him shaken
Medical emergencies can arise unexpectedly in everyday life, and without immediate action, they can lead to serious, life-threatening consequences. A senior teacher, Lydia Vegara, at Goddard High School in Roswell, was caught in a similar situation while eating breakfast when she choked, as reported by KRQE News on January 15, 2026. However, she maintained her composure and sought help from a school employee, who immediately responded by leaving his Zoom meeting.
The incident occurred on the morning of January 14, 2026. While Vegara was eating breakfast at school, a bite got stuck in her throat, and she began choking. She went to another part of the school to seek help from a school staff member, according to a recording captured by the school's surveillance camera. The school’s social worker, Brent Clay, was the first to respond. Without hesitation, he performed the Heimlich maneuver, even though he had never done it before. His initial attempts were cautious and unsuccessful, but with a "good tug," the food came tumbling out. Overcome with relief, he hugged her, unable to imagine the school without her.
“And of course, I gave her this big, long hug because I couldn’t think of her not being around,” said the school social worker. Clay and Vegara had known each other for decades. Vegara was a teacher at an elementary school since Clay was an 8-year-old kid. They even shared a neighborhood. “So I’ve known her the bulk of my life. So we weren’t ready for her to go yet,” Clay revealed. Realizing he had spent so much of his life with her, Brent was later terrified of what could have happened when she was choking. Fortunately, his successful Heimlich maneuver prevented serious consequences and ultimately saved the teacher’s life.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the Heimlich maneuver is a choking first-aid technique where a person stands behind someone who is choking and delivers quick, inward, upward thrusts to the abdomen until the blockage clears or the person loses consciousness, at which point CPR should begin. Vegara is thankful to her colleague and friend for saving her life. “Just that I thank him every time I see him,” she said. The teacher added that she is now more careful while eating and has not suffered any long-term problems following the incident. The outlet also posted a video report of the incident on Facebook, which received emotional reactions from viewers.
Jessica Pinedo Alonzo remarked, “The way he hugged her has me teary-eyed!” Mandy Dowland mentioned, “That hug brought me to tears.” The video showed Vegara's relief as soon as the food popped out, but even more touching was the way Clay hugged her, making it seem as if he was the one actually feeling the relief. One of the users, TaKendra McNeary, noticed this: “Mr. Clay was more relieved than her. He needed that hug.” Clay truly became a hero after saving the teacher’s life, and that’s why Vegara gave him a new Spanish name, “Mi San Martín de Porras,” meaning her angel.
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