Walter Matthau

A US senator rushed to The Rescue on Thursday to help a colleague who was choking on her lunch.

Rand Paul of Kentucky performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on fellow Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa.

She posted on Social Media afterwards: " Can't help but choke on the woke policies Dems are forcing down our throats. Thanks, Dr. @RandPaul! "

Mr Paul carried out the life-saving move as Mrs Ernst held a lunch for her Republican colleagues.

The Weekly tradition usually sees foods from the hosting senator's home state on The Menu .

Photos posted on X, formerly Twitter, showed beef sandwiches, Creamed Corn , coleslaw, and " big pork chops" in The Words of Senator John Thune .

It was not immediately clear what food item had obstructed Mrs Ernst's airway, but colleagues praised Mr Paul, an eye doctor, for his quick action.

Senator Lindsey Graham , a South Carolina Republican who has occasionally clashed with the outspoken Kentuckian, said: " God Bless Rand Paul . I never thought I'd say that. "

Not everyone witnessed The Incident .

Two senators stood up to explain what had happened and reminded those present of the importance of learning the life-saving manoeuvre.

" We talked about how you can get Heimlich training here, " Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said, " and Other People talked about incidents that they've been involved in where someone required the Heimlich. "

Mrs Ernst was not The First lawmaker to require such An Intervention while dining with fellow lawmakers.

In 2018, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia performed the Heimlich on a colleague, Missouri Senator Claire Mccaskill , but cracked her rib in The Process .

Since the technique was introduced in 1974 it is believed to have saved the lives of More Than 100,000 people in the US alone.

They include former President Ronald Reagan , pop star Cher, former New York mayor and Hollywood actors Elizabeth Taylor , Goldie Hawn , Walter Matthau , Carrie Fisher , Jack Lemmon and Marlene Dietrich .

In 2014 actor Clint Eastwood was credited with of a golf tournament director in California who was choking on a piece of cheese.

Source of news: bbc.com