A restaurant owner in El Monte is being celebrated as a hero after she sprang into action to save a customer who was choking right outside her bustling establishment.
On Sunday, security cameras captured the intense moment at Carnitas Y Chicharrones “El Gallo,” when Maria Molina, the owner, was informed that a loyal patron was experiencing a medical emergency.
Initially, someone thought the customer simply needed water. However, upon stepping outside, Molina quickly assessed the situation as more serious.
“I realized it wasn’t about water. He wasn’t able to breathe,” Molina shared with ABC7.
“He was choking on food, and instinctively, I reacted. It was truly frightening, but I knew I had to act fast,” she recounted.
Despite lacking formal CPR training, Molina executed the Heimlich maneuver on the customer. After several tense moments, the food was expelled, and the man could finally breathe again.
The customer later thanked Molina for saving his life and gave her permission to share the surveillance video on social media.
The frightening ordeal has also inspired a new goal for the restaurant: Molina said she and her employees now plan to enroll in CPR classes.
