The incident took place on 8/8 at a restaurant in Huanggu District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province. A woman suddenly stood up, frantically waving her hands for help. Her boyfriend and restaurant staff tried patting her back, but she only grew more suffocated, her lips turning blue.
Recognizing the emergency, 11-year-old Hu Zihan rushed over, embraced the woman from behind, and performed the Heimlich maneuver. After about 30 seconds, three tapioca pearls popped out, and the woman could breathe normally again.
Surveillance footage from the restaurant shows the woman turning around to hug Zihan with a grateful expression after being rescued. She said she had been signaling for help but no one understood.
"The first four minutes are crucial for saving someone who is choking. I just thought I had to be quick to save her," Zihan said.
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11-year-old Hu Zihan performing the Heimlich maneuver on a woman named Wu who choked on a tapioca pearl while drinking bubble tea. Photo: Restaurant CCTV |
Hu Zihan explained that she is a youth first aid instructor with the Liaoning Red Cross. She had learned the Heimlich maneuver just a few days prior. It's an emergency procedure to clear the airway when it's blocked by a foreign object. If not addressed within 6-10 minutes, the victim can die or suffer permanent brain damage.
"Patting the patient's back, as the adults were doing, can cause the object to lodge deeper. In critical moments, knowing first aid can truly save a life," Zihan said.
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Hu Zihan at a Liaoning Red Cross first aid class. Photo: CCTV News/Ningbo News |
Hu Zihan's mother said she is extremely proud of her daughter.
"She told me, 'Mom, I can save her,' and immediately stood up. At first, no one dared to let her intervene, but she went straight to the woman and saved her life," the girl’s mother shared.
The girl's actions have also been met with admiration online for saving a life in a critical moment.
Thanh Thanh (Global Times, Says.com)
