During the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival on Sunday, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu sprang into action to aid a contestant who began choking on a lobster roll. The participant, Christian Moreno from Nashua, was in the middle of an eating contest striving to devour 20 rolls in just 10 minutes.
Moreno was doing great until he started choking after his second roll, signaling for help by tapping his chest. Luckily, Sununu was nearby after addressing the crowd and quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver, delivering several abdominal thrusts before first responders arrived.
After the scare, Moreno recovered and resumed his eating, ultimately finishing nine rolls, although he didn’t win the contest. “It was crazy because it wasn’t just the jumping in; it was the whole situation,” Sununu shared with WMUR-TV.
Interestingly, Moreno wasn’t aware it was the governor who had come to his rescue. “My counter joked about how nobody can say they got the Heimlich from the governor. I had no idea it was him!” Moreno said.
This incident occurs as Sununu, who is not seeking re-election for a fifth term, previously endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election. Trump is set to face off against Vice President Kamala Harris, as the political landscape in New Hampshire remains a key player in election outcomes, despite its recent Democratic leanings.
New Hampshire’s status as a battleground state means that every vote counts, especially given the importance of the Electoral College, where candidates need 270 electoral votes to win. This year’s election dynamics will be crucial as they unfold.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press