STAFF AT a Dundee fast-food restaurant have been told they saved a choking customer from certain death earlier this week.

The man, whose name has not been released because of patient confidentiality, was in Mc- Donald’s on Longtown Road on Monday afternoon when his Happy Meal nearly became his last meal.

He collapsed and began turning blue as he choked on his food in front of horrified customers.

Assistant shift manager Gary Poland frantically tried to keep the man alive and attempted to remove the blockage by using the Heimlich manoeuvre, but that failed to dislodge the obstruction and the man did not regain consciousness.

Gary then began cardio pulmonary resuscitation while a colleague called an ambulance.

Paramedics arrived and continued CPR before taking the choking man to hospital.

Despite the drama, staff were not told if the man had survived although paramedics did say they had managed to get him to respond on the way to Ninewells Hospital.

After a worrying wait, staff finally learned yesterday that the customer appeared to have survived his ordeal with no long-term repercussions.

Shift manager Ronnie Clark said, “One of the paramedics came in and she told us that he was up and speaking and was going to be all right.

“He is still in hospital but she said he would certainly have died if we hadn’t given him CPR.

“He’s going to be all right now, though, and that’s the main thing. Everybody is really happy.”