HAMPTON BEACH, NH – Gov. Chris Sununu rushed to help a contestant who was choking on a lobster roll at a New Hampshire seafood festival eating contest, using the Heimlich maneuver after the man signaled for help.
Governor Chris Sununu performs the Heimlich maneuver
The contestant, Christian Moreno, recovered and resumed eating at the on-stage competition on Sunday.
“In the commotion and excitement of the competition, I was the first to notice that the gentleman at the far end of the line of contestants was choking. So I stepped forward and immediately began giving him the Heimlich,” the Republican governor said in a statement. “After the lobster roll came off, Christian went right back to the competition, which I couldn’t believe. He ate seven more lobster rolls after that!”
Hampton Beach Lobster Roll Eating Contest
Moreno was one of six contestants in the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival competition. They had 10 minutes to eat as many lobster rolls as they could. The New England sandwich is traditionally filled with lobster, celery and mayonnaise and served on a hot dog-like bun.
“I’m shooting for at least 20,” Moreno, of Nashua, said in a video account before the contest started, saying he studied competitive eater Joey Chestnut of hot dog-eating fame.
Moreno was at the end of a long table, near where Sununu watched from the side of the stage after speaking to the audience a little earlier.
Standing, Moreno had downed about two lobster rolls when he began choking and tapping his chest, video showed. Sununu rushed out a short time later, put his arms around Moreno and started abdominal punches. He said he received four or five compressions before first responders took over and helped remove the food.
“Here in New Hampshire we never hesitate to jump in to help, I’m just glad I paid attention in my high school health class,” Sununu said. His office said it was the first time he performed the Heimlich maneuver.
The governor said he is grateful to Hampton’s first responders who took over to perform the Heimlich after he stepped in.