LOVELAND, Colo. -- While eating pistachios in class, Sam Lopez never thought he would, in minutes, be close to death. That’s just what happened to the Loveland High student as one of the nuts became lodged in his windpipe.
“I was just sharing the nuts with others, when one went down the wrong way,” said Lopez. “I couldn’t breathe so I ran out in the hall looking for the water fountain. But even that wouldn’t clear my throat.”
Lopez then ran into the first classroom he came to, which happened to be the room where Mark Findley was teaching. He asked what was wrong but Sam could only say he couldn’t breathe and not much more.
“I have coached for 30 years so I have seen many injuries and strange conditions,” said Findley. “His eyes were glazed and he was turning colors, so I spun him around as he pointed to his chest and gave him a couple of quick thrusts under his sternum-the Heimlich maneuver-and the nut popped out!”
Today, Sam’s step-dad came to class to personally thank Findley.
“We can never thank you enough,” said Tim Goodwin. “He says your actions saved his life, and for that we are ever-so grateful.”
A happy ending to what could have been a real classroom tragedy.
“I was just sharing the nuts with others, when one went down the wrong way,” said Lopez. “I couldn’t breathe so I ran out in the hall looking for the water fountain. But even that wouldn’t clear my throat.”
Lopez then ran into the first classroom he came to, which happened to be the room where Mark Findley was teaching. He asked what was wrong but Sam could only say he couldn’t breathe and not much more.
“I have coached for 30 years so I have seen many injuries and strange conditions,” said Findley. “His eyes were glazed and he was turning colors, so I spun him around as he pointed to his chest and gave him a couple of quick thrusts under his sternum-the Heimlich maneuver-and the nut popped out!”
Today, Sam’s step-dad came to class to personally thank Findley.
“We can never thank you enough,” said Tim Goodwin. “He says your actions saved his life, and for that we are ever-so grateful.”
A happy ending to what could have been a real classroom tragedy.
