Cheektowaga, N.Y. (WBEN) - A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport was saved by the heroics of a colleague who sprung into action after she began choking while eating in the breakroom.
Officer Marie Benny and Supervisory Officer William Brand, seated just a few feet apart from each other in the breakroom that morning, were not much more than casual, professional colleagues for nearly 12 years.
With an hour-and-a-half left on her part-time morning shift, Benny was relaxing in the breakroom, snacking on granola and speaking with friends just feet away from Brand, who was 15 minutes away from punching in for his afternoon shift.
Unexpectedly, Benny couldn't breathe.
"I began choking on the granola I was eating and was very scared, because I could not get enough air to cough anything up," remembered Benny. "No offense, but I just kept thinking, 'Dear God, I do not want to die here in the TSA breakroom.'"
Brand and others were initially unaware of Benny's plight, and didn't realize she was choking. Distressed and unable to speak, she did the only life-preserving thing she could think to do: She made herself known and heard with her hands.
"He could've stepped away, refused, froze or said he couldn't do anything, but he stepped up and put his arms around me with a strong bear hug motion," said a thankful Benny, who, in hindsight realized she might have forced his hand in the crisis.
Having never put his 15-year-old Heimlich training into practice, all Brand could think was, "I hope this works!"
The food dislodged in five quick compressions, and Benny gulped the breakroom air in relief.
Brand cautioned panicked people may not use the universal choking signal of clutching their throat, and modestly said he was glad to be in a position to help.
"Marie's a trooper," said Brand. "She took an extra 15 minutes on her break then went back to work."
"I want everyone to know Bill Brand went into action and saved a life," said Benny. "It seems like a simple statement, but it is very emotional."
On a lighter note, Benny said she won't be snacking on granola anytime soon.
