Newman University dean performs Heimlich on choking provost

A Newman University dean is being credited with saving the college’s provost from choking on a piece of Starburst candy on Tuesday.

Levi Esses, Newman’s dean of students, was visiting with a student worker near the student center when he noticed Michael Austin, the school’s provost, having what he thought was a coughing fit.

“I said, ‘Hey Mike, you doing okay?’ ” Esses said. “I was going to make a funny joke and say, ‘Are you all choked up to see me?’ but I didn’t say that. He waved his hand like he was okay.”

As Austin continued walking down the hallway, toward a board of trustees meeting, he began to wheeze loudly.

Esses asked him if he was choking, and Austin nodded his head and spread his arms. Esses performed the Heimlich maneuver on him until the candy became dislodged.

Nursing students who saw the incident rushed over and were ready to provide assistance if needed, Esses said.

Esses took Austin into his office so that he could sit down and catch his breath. When the two left, Esses said the students applauded him, which he said was “kind of cool.”

Esses said he has been CPR-certified before, but has never done the procedure on another person.

“I’m just glad he’s okay,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it afterwards – I was in shock. I wasn’t expecting to do that before the board meeting.”

Austin said he was eating the candy when he coughed and sucked it into his windpipe.

“It was kind of scary,” he said. “I probably won’t ever eat Starburst again.”

Clark Schafer, Newman’s director of university relations, said it was “the buzz on campus” on Wednesday.

Austin was in generally good spirits Wednesday evening.

“Provosts should not try to walk and chew at the same time,” he said.

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 5:56 AM with the headline "Newman University dean performs Heimlich on choking provost."