Chiefs TE Gonzalez saves man’s life in restaurant

[Steelman16]

Chiefs TE Gonzalez saves man’s life in restaurant

By DOUG TUCKER, AP Sports Writer
5 hours, 35 minutes ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—A California man says Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs kept him from choking to death.

“Tony saved my life. There’s no doubt,” Ken Hunter, a shipping company manager, told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Huntington Beach, Calif.

“Tony came up behind me and gave me the Heimlich maneuver. Thank God he was there.”

Gonzalez, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection who has set numerous NFL records, was having dinner with his wife, brother and 5-week-old daughter at Capone’s restaurant in Huntington Beach Thursday night. Hunter, 45, was dining with his girlfriend at the next table when suddenly a piece of meat stuck in his throat.

“I tried to take a drink of water, but I couldn’t swallow,” Hunter told The AP. “Then I couldn’t breathe. That’s a terrible feeling. I couldn’t breathe. Then I guess I started to panic.”

Gonzalez, sitting with his back to Hunter’s table, looked around when he heard Hunter’s companion yelling.

“She was screaming, `He can’t breathe, he can’t breathe,”’ Gonzalez said by phone from California, where he lives in the offseason. “The whole restaurant was quiet. Nobody was doing anything.”

Then I saw he was turning blue. Everybody in the restaurant was just kind of sitting there wide-eyed.”

The 6-foot-5 Gonzalez, about a foot taller than Hunter, jumped out of his chair and came up behind the stricken man and began to perform the Heimlich maneuver.

“After just a few seconds, the piece of meat popped out,” Hunter said. “I could breathe again. It’s a good thing Tony is so tall because I had stood up— I think.”

Diana Martin, a restaurant employee, said no one else seemed to know what to do.

“He was so lucky Tony was there,” Martin said. “In a situation like that, every second counts. It helped a lot that Tony’s a big, strong guy because you have to be able to apply some pretty good pressure. I don’t think I would have been strong enough to help him.”

Hunter went into the restroom to clean up and didn’t realize he’d been saved by a famous athlete until he came out.

“I’m a big NFL fan and I recognized him right away. I was still kind of dazed when I went over and thanked him and said, `What can I do for you?’ I guess I said it about 1,000 times.”

Gonzalez, who has been active in charity and community activities during a brilliant career with the Chiefs, said he had no intention of having the incident become public.

“The next night I had a dinner for my grandmother’s 90th birthday, and people were saying, `Why didn’t you tell me about that?’ I honestly don’t want to make a big deal out of it. But of course it does give me a lot of satisfaction to know that I was able to help somebody.”

One of the most productive receivers in pro football history, Gonzalez holds the NFL record for tight ends with 820 career receptions and 102 catches in a season. He needs only 79 more yards receiving to become the career leader among tight ends.

He has never received any formal instruction in the Heimlich maneuver.

“I had seen it done, so I just did it,” Gonzalez said. “When you find yourself in those situations where you have to take action in a crucial situation, you just do it. I got the same feeling I get when I go on a hospital visit.”’

Hunter is a lifelong fan of the San Diego Chargers, one of Kansas City’s key rivals in the AFC West, and plans to be at the game when the Chiefs visit the Chargers on Nov. 9.

“I’m Tony’s No. 1 fan now,” he said.

And what will this longtime follower of the Chargers do if they’re ahead by four or five points in the final minute and Gonzalez runs into the end zone and leaps up for what would be the game-winning touchdown for K.C.?

“I’m going to be yelling for Tony to catch the ball,” Hunter said. “I think all my friends will understand.”

[CantStop85]

Positive news about an NFL player? Are you sure this isn't from The Onion?

But seriously, quick thinking by Tony...I sure wouldn't have been alert enough to have done that. Just another source of support for Gonzalez being great both on and off the field.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by CantStop85

Positive news about an NFL player? Are you sure this isn't from The Onion?

.

word is the gentleman sustained bruising to the ribs from the excessive force gonzalez used in performing the "heimlich manuver" and he is now being sued...


















on a serious note, everyone should know the hindlick manuver....

chicks dig it.

[Preacher]

Good for him.

I am also shocked to hear good news from an NFL player incident...

What I really liked, is how he didn't even tell his friends or family the next day.

Classy.

[The Duke]

how is it this guy always gets overlooked, not only is he a great player, but he is a great person off the field. great job, the nfl needs more like you tony

as for this tony....

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

on a serious note, everyone should know the hindlick manuver....

chicks dig it.

[Galax Steeler]

Great job Tony,good thing he was there everyone else was just staring.

[RoethlisBURGHer]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

on a serious note, everyone should know the hindlick manuver....

chicks dig it.

You would know my friend, you would know!

[HometownGal]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

on a serious note, everyone should know the hindlick manuver....

chicks dig it.

Thank God Gonzo knew what to do - that poor guy could have died pretty quickly if nothing was done. Great job Tony! It is refreshing to hear something positive concerning an NFL player these days!

I'm a firm believer that every able-bodied person should be trained in both CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. As in this case, you never know when someone is going to need your help and chances are - you'll save a life!

[RoethlisBURGHer]

I guess the guy he saved is a Chargers fan.

Man if I knew I was about to save the life of a Browns, Ravens, or Bengals fan...I'd have to ponder if it is worth the effort.

[stlrtruck]

Originally Posted by RoethlisBURGHer

I guess the guy he saved is a Chargers fan.

Man if I knew I was about to save the life of a Browns, Ravens, or Bengals fan...I'd have to ponder if it is worth the effort.

In my mind you'd have to save them. Just think of the humility when they have to tell everyone that their brothers and sisters from the same team did nothing but A STEELERS FAN SAVED MY LIFE...