Massachusetts

Attleboro, Mass. Woman Saves Neighbor From Choking

"I just really want people to realize we can save lives, too. Just because I sit in this wheelchair, doesn’t mean anything," the hero said

Heidi Cabral of Attleboro, Massachusetts describes the frantic knock at her door at the Hope Gardens Apartments.

"She was right here at the doorway just staring at me, and she was as white as a ghost," she said.

Heidi, who's wheelchair bound, quickly stepped up to save her elderly neighbor, Lucinda Provost’s life.

"I choked on a piece of roast beef," said Provost. "I felt like I couldn’t breathe."

So Cabral said she pulled Provost down onto her lap in her chair.

"I didn't want to see her die, she wasn’t going to die," Cabral said. "I put her on my lap, I did the Heimlich. A little came out. I realized it wasnt enough so I was just pounding on her back and then just a whole bunch of roast beef just came out."

She also called 911 and the housing office for help.

"She started to pass out so I got her to the floor."

Provost was taken to the hospital, and is now OK, although a little traumatized.

"I'll never eat it again, never," she said.

She thanked Cabral with a card, and Cabral said even though she’s not trained in the Heimlich she’s glad she acted fast.

The hero wants people to know she’s just as capable as everyone else.

"I just really want people to realize we can save lives, too," she said, "Just because I sit in this wheelchair, doesn’t mean anything."

Cabral said she will now plans to take a life saving course in case anything like this ever happens again.

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