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New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu may not have been able to save Nikki Haley’s presidential aspirations, but he may have saved a man’s life on Sunday.

Sununu was watching a lobster roll-eating contest from the side of the stage when a contestant started choking. As the emcee joked about whether the man was going to make it, unaware of the seriousness of the moment, Sununu sprang into action. As the man signaled for help, the Republican governor rushed on stage and began employing the Heimlich maneuver.

The contestant, identified by WKRC-TV as Christian Moreno, recovered and reengaged in the eating competition.

“Moreno was one of six participants at the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival contest. They had 10 minutes to eat as many lobster rolls as they could. The New England sandwich is traditionally stuffed with lobster, celery, and mayonnaise and served on a hot dog-style bun,” the outlet reported.

In a video recorded before the competition, Moreno cited hot dog-eating legend Joey Chestnut as his inspiration while declaring, “I’m shooting for at least 20.”

Unfortunately, he had only downed two when he started choking.

“I’m just glad I paid attention in my high school health class,” Sununu said in a statement Monday. This was the first time he had ever performed the Heimlich maneuver, according to his office.

As for Moreno, he wasn’t aware that it was the governor who came to his aid.

“My counter came up to me and, like, made a joke. And was like, ‘Oh, like, I bet nobody else can say that they’ve gotten the Heimlich from the governor before.’ And I looked at him, was just like, that was, that was the governor?” he told WMUR-TV.

Tom Tillison
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