Man saved from choking gets straight back into eating contest after Heimlich manoeuvre

A man who was moments away from choking to death returned to gobbling up seven more lobster rolls during an eating competition.

Christian Moreno had just downed his second sandwich when he started to choke during the Hampton Beach Lobster Roll Eating Competition on Sunday.

He is seen shoving down roll after a roll in his mouth and chugging water to help the food pass.

Just a few minutes into the contest he is seen tapping on his chest to signal that a piece had lodged inside his esophagus, causing him to choke.

Footage shows the man, wearing a pink baseball hat and a blue T-shirt, struggling to breath – but no one seemed to notice for awhile.

A man to the side of the stage finally realised what was happening and wrapped his arms around Moreno, giving him the Heimlich maneuver.

It turns out this unlikely hero was New Hampshire’s governor, Chris Sununu.

It took five compressions before the blockage of lobster roll was lodged from the competitor’s throat and he could breathe again.

Moreno is seen raising his hand in a thumbs up to show the four-term Republican governor that he is alright.

Impressively – as if nothing had happened – he then continued powering through with the contest.

Sununu said the man ate at least seven more lobster rolls after what could have been a fatal incident.

‘He went right back to the contest, which I couldn’t believe,’ the politician recalled.

‘He ate another seven lobster rolls after that. Right down the gullet.’

Meanwhile, Moreno admitted he had no idea his rescuer was in fact the governor.

He told WMUR-TV that it was not until after putting his glasses back on after the competition ended when he realise.

Moreno also vowed to return to the eating contest next year, adding: ‘I will be there for my redemption, 100%.’

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