Hywel Williams MP has presented Sheakh Rifat from the Bangor Tandoori Restaurant with an achievement award, for saving the life of a choking customer at the Bangor restaurant last month.
Rifat was working at the restaurant on Bangor High Street when customer Jake Snelling began choking. He quickly noticed there was a problem and immediately stepped in to help.
Jake began struggling to breathe and his friends thought he had indigestion, but Rifat realised the situation was much more serious. He stood Jake up and began to perform the ‘Heimlich manoeuvre’ to remove the food blocking Jake’s airway. After a few attempts the food was dislodged and Jake began to breathe again.
The whole sequence of events was recorded on the restaurant’s cctv and has gone viral after being posted on social media. After the incident Jake can be seen taking big gulps of air and bending over his chair. He later pats Rifat on the shoulder and can be seen mouthing “thank you”. The other customers in the restaurant can be seen clapping as Jake thanked Rifat for saving his life.
Talking about the incident Rifat said: “I could see the guest was turning red and struggling and I wanted to help. His friend had been patting him on the back.
“I’ve had no formal training in this, to be honest I remember something like this happening to me and my dad did the same to me.”
Rifat said his actions were also inspired by a cartoon he saw when he was little, he added: “I don’t think really have time to think, I am just so glad he was okay after.
“To me, helping him was one of the greatest moments in my life.”
Restaurant owner Mustakim Raza told North Wales Live: “The customer was choking and what Rifat did was a fantastic act.”
Hywel Williams described the opportunity to present the award as a privilege, thanking Rifat for his action.
