It was a terrifying moment that could have been tragic for a Kauai man. But thanks to some quick thinking from his eight-year-old son, this story has a happy ending.
Michael Herbert and his son Johnathan were sitting in the living room of their home in Koloa, enjoying a Tiger's Milk Bar just having a grand time.
"We were dipping it in the honey and eating it and we were laughing because we were spilling it,” said Michael.
But that sweet snack quickly turned sour when a chunk of the candy bar got lodged in Michael's throat.
He got up and walked toward the kitchen, trying to get the piece out so he can breathe, without much luck.
"I was saying to myself oh dear God I'm gonna die right here in front of my son,” said Michael.
Eight year old Johnathan was right behind him, and without hesitation, gave his dad a hard punch right on the back, dislodging the candy bar out of his throat.
When asked why Johnathan did it, he said, "It would save his life. He might be hurt but it might save his life."
That's exactly what he did.
Michael, a scuba instructor teaches life saving skills like CPR.
He's talked to his son about what to do if someone is in trouble, like someone who's choking.
It also helped that Johnathan has been taking karate lessons for four years.
That made it easier for him to land a good punch, good enough knock out a chunk of that candy bar.
The American Red Cross says Johnathan did what he was supposed to do.
His dad was also lucky that he was bent down and not standing straight up when his Johnathan hit him.
"Standing straight up like this what the item would do would just come down further and probably would have really blocked his airways out,” said Ron Mina from the American Red Cross.
There are two things a person can do to save someone who's choking.
A few hits with the palm of the hand to the back, right between the shoulder blades.
Or do the Heimlich maneuver, pushing the stomach in with a fist just above the navel.
The choking victim can do that himself if there's no one around.
