Groom Saves Choking Wedding Guest With Heimlich Maneuver During His Reception

TRABUCO CANYON (CBSLA.com) — "If I'm ever in a position where I need a fireman to help me, I hope it's you or I hope it's someone like you," said the best man and father of Cody Campbell during a heartfelt toast.

Minutes later, Campbell, a Los Angeles County firefighter, came to the rescue of a wedding guest who had been choking on a piece of meat.

It all unfolded during Campbell's wedding reception at the Dove Canyon Golf Club in Orange County four nights ago.

"At the time I was giving my toast about how proud I was that he was a firefighter, we overheard a couple of people yell, 'Oh my God! She's choking,' " recalls retired Orange County Fire Captain Craig Campbell, Campbell's father and best man.

"Basically, I just grabbed her and I kicked the chair out of the way, found her navel, rolled up and I just started doing the Heimlich as hard as I could and I did it about five times," he said.

Many of the wedding guests were firefighters, who lined up to help.

Campbell's bride, Kelly, said some in the crowd didn't think it was real.

"The timing was just crazy with how the speeches were going and what was said," she said. "Even some people in the back who really couldn't see this far ahead truly thought that it might have been staged."

She added: "but I assure you, I'm not an actress, that was not faking it."

Campbell said the guest ended up finishing her steak and that he later saw her on the dance floor.

"I saw her out on the dance floor. She's like, 'You saved my life!' It's kind of a surreal feeling," he said.