The world reacted with sadness at the weekend at the news that the surgeon who created the life-saving Heimlich manoeuvre for choking victims has died.
Dr Henry Heimlich died at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati after suffering a heart attack earlier in the week.
As Courier readers may remember, Dr Heimlich retained a lifelong interest in the use of his manoeuvre — and made front page news when he contacted The Courier in July 2008 to congratulate a Perthshire doctor who saved her fiancé’s life when he choked at a Broughty Ferry restaurant.
Claire Lomas, 28, sprang into action when her partner, James Taylor, 25, choked during a post-graduation meal.
Mr Heimlich, then 88, paid tribute to the cool-headed Errol woman after reading the story on our website.
From Cincinnati, he said: “Although I am aware of the thousands of lives of choking victims saved by the Heimlich manoeuvre throughout the world, each individual report is different and very moving for me.
“Please extend my congratulations to Dr Claire Lomas who used the Heimlich manoeuvre to save the life of her fiance, James Taylor, who was choking on
food the evening of their graduation celebration.”
“It is a fantastic honour,” said a chuffed Claire when The Courier told her the news. “It is really touching that such a celebrated doctor would take the time to get in touch like that.
“The manoeuvre has saved so many lives and it is something everybody has heard of. It is unbelievable that he heard of my story and congratulated me.”
