Wife ‘eternally grateful’ to husband's 'excellent' technique that saved her from choking on steak – while it left her with 9 cracked ribs and stitches
An Australian mother of four opened up about a terrifying dinner party incident that left her with nine broken ribs, stitches, and a newfound appreciation for her husband’s quick thinking. Carolyn Creswell, founder of the popular food brand Carman’s, shared the story and multiple hospital photos on Instagram on Thursday, January 8, 2026, under the handle @carolyncreswell, as reported by PEOPLE. Creswell described how she nearly choked on a piece of steak a year ago while hosting friends at her farm in Gippsland. Her husband, Pete, performed life-saving CPR after she passed out, ultimately saving her life but leaving her with injuries that required significant recovery time.
The incident unfolded quickly. Creswell recalled that Pete first attempted the Heimlich maneuver (standing behind her and applying abdominal pressure), but she lost consciousness, splitting her head open in the process. Friends at the dinner called emergency services, and Creswell’s husband, along with other guests, administered what she described as "excellent" CPR for half an hour, "until the four ambulances arrived." First responders then used long forceps to remove the lodged food, and she was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. She spent a week in the ICU and trauma unit, recovering from a concussion, a stitched head, nine cracked ribs, and a broken sternum, all caused by the force of the CPR that saved her life. Creswell said her husband’s mannequin training came in handy when he faced a real-life emergency, joking, “Apparently, it’s not good CPR if it doesn’t break a few things!”
Reflecting on the ordeal, Creswell praised her husband and the medical teams who helped her, including the staff at The Alfred, the calm operator who guided them over the phone, and her friend Doone Colless, who arrived quickly to prevent her hair from being shaved during treatment. She also thanked her colleagues at Carman’s for supporting her while she was "out of action." Creswell concluded by saying she is “eternally grateful every day for a 100% recovery” and offered a humorous note about steak, despite being offered at every hospital meal, is no longer her first choice. She also warned others that steak is one of the most common choking hazards, adding, “So please chew well!”
When a spouse truly lives up to the vow of "in sickness and in health," incidents like these show just how lucky their partner really is. In another story, a man began choking suddenly, and his pregnant wife stepped in to perform the critical rescue. During a family dinner, the husband started choking on a mozzarella stick, struggling to breathe. His six-month-pregnant wife noticed immediately and acted without hesitation. She carefully adjusted her position to protect both her husband and unborn child while performing the Heimlich maneuver. The house security footage captured her quick thinking and courage. She later comforted her two children, who were clearly shaken, showing how a mother can handle even the most serious moments with strength and care.
For more amazing real-life content, follow @carolyncreswell on Instagram.