{"id":14040,"date":"2016-05-31T18:35:44","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T18:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=14040"},"modified":"2016-05-31T18:35:44","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T18:35:44","slug":"off-duty-deputy-saves-veterans-life-let-me-get-involved-in-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=14040","title":{"rendered":"Off-duty deputy saves veteran\u2019s life: \u2018Let me get involved in this\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Watch the report HERE\u203a\u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

(wtvr<\/a>) \u2013 MONTPELIER, Va. \u2014 An off-duty Hanover County Sheriff\u2019s deputy saved an army veteran\u2019s life using the Heimlich maneuver. \u00a0Both the deputy and the man he saved are calling on more people to learn the proper techniques.<\/p>\n

On April 3rd, veteran Hanover County Deputy Chris Kothe was enjoying a post-diner treat of gelato at his favorite Italian restaurant on Route 33 when he heard a commotion near the front of the restaurant.<\/p>\n

Army veteran Phillip Wells and his wife Helen were eating their supper, when suddenly Mr. Wells was in need of help.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ordered pizza,\u201d Wells said. \u201cEvidently I breathed in, and it took one of those real thin Italian sausages, you can read through them they\u2019re so thin. \u00a0It went into my throat and blocked my airway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was turning blue,\u201d said Kothe. \u00a0\u201cPassed off my cone to the waitress and said, \u2018Let me get involved in this.'\u201d<\/p>\n

Helen and other patrons of the restaurant tried to help Wells but were unsuccessful. \u00a0That\u2019s when deputy Kothe stepped in to deploy a move he has been training on for years but had never used in his 23 years in law enforcement: the Heimlich maneuver.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew either it was going to dislodge [the food] or his guts were going to come out of his mouth,\u201d said deputy Kothe with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a strong man,\u201d Wells said with a chuckle.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"