Tenafly, N.J., Police Save Man From Choking On Thanksgiving
TENAFLY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – A Thanksgiving meal almost cost a man in New Jersey his life, if not for some quick action by police.
As CBS2's Matt Kozar reported, the call came in to Tenafly police on Thanksgiving Day around dinner time.
"I heard a lot of chaos in the background, and I heard people yelling," Officer Louis Smaragdakis said.
Someone on Pilgrim Court was choking and in need of help.
"I know there's a small window of opportunity before he loses consciousness," Lt. Ralph Lawrence said.
Lawrence grabbed his medical kit and cruised down Mayflower Drive to get to the house where 70-year-old Bruce Pfiffer was choking on a piece of brisket.
"It got lodged in my throat," Pfiffer said.
"I could see the victim was blue and his color wasn't good," Lawrence said.
"I was able to put the oxygen through a little nasal breathing tube," Smaragdakis said.
At first, the Heimlich maneuver wasn't working, Kozar reported. It took several dozen thrusts to finally dislodge the brisket.
"I basically owe my existence here today… to Lt. Ralph Lawrence," Pfiffer said.
Pfiffer, a psychiatrist who retired just a few days before, said he can now live out his days thanks to Lawrence, who visited him when he was in the hospital.
"I felt fortunate to have been blessed to be able to help him," Lawrence said.
The question now is whether there will be brisket at next year's Thanksgiving.
"You're asking a tricky question. I think we'll stick with turkey," Pfiffer joked.
All Tenafly police officers are required to be training in first aid and CPR.
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