Man saved from choking death

BOARDMAN — Bystanders and township firefighters saved a life at a township fast-food restaurant.

About 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15, the fire department was called to respond to Long John Silvers, 1039 Boardman-Poland Road, for a man choking on some food.

When firefighters arrived only three minutes later, they found three individuals assisting David Baun of Petersburg. Baun was becoming unresponsive and bystanders Paula Johnson, an employee of Long John Silvers; Robert Kunkle of East Palestine; and an off-duty Boardman police/fire dispatcher, Ed Sutak, were performing the Heimlich maneuver on Baun.

Firefighters assisted the bystanders who had moved Baun from his chair and placed him on the floor; by sitting him upright on the floor, they were able to perform the Heimlich which dislodged the food.

Baun regained consciousness before the ambulance arrived, was feeling better and refused to be transported to the hospital. Several minutes after emergency responders left the restaurant, Baun was still not feeling well and agreed to go to the hospital to be checked.

Firefighters assigned to Station 74 on South Ave. have responded to more than 120 medical emergencies this year and have been credited with saving three lives.