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Alone in My Kitchen: The Day I Almost Didn't Survive Lunch  — How This Remarkable Device Saved My Life When No One Was There to Help

If you've ever worried about what would happen if you or someone you love started choking while alone, my story might change how you think about safety at home. What saved my life that day is now protecting thousands of people across Australia, and yet most still don't know it exists.

3,273 Ratings

By Sarah Mitchell

April 14th, 2025

The Silent Emergency That Strikes When You Least Expect It

Choking is one of the most terrifying emergencies that can happen when you're alone. Every year in Australia, thousands of people lose their lives to choking — many of them in the privacy of their own homes, with no one around to help.

 

I never thought it would happen to me. As a 58-year-old retired teacher living independently in my flat in Brisbane, I've always been careful. But on a Tuesday afternoon three months ago, the unthinkable happened in the most ordinary moment imaginable — while having lunch in my own kitchen.

 

What I discovered that day changed everything I thought I knew about personal safety. And I'm sharing my story because what saved my life could save yours or someone you love — especially if you live alone, care for elderly parents, or simply want to be prepared for one of life's most common yet deadly emergencies.

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"It Was Just an Ordinary Sandwich"

That Tuesday started like any other. I made myself a simple lunch — a ham & chicken sandwich with a bit of crusty bread — and sat down at my kitchen table to enjoy it while reading the newspaper. I wasn't rushing, I wasn't distracted. I was simply eating lunch.

 

Then, in an instant, everything changed. A piece of crusty bread lodged firmly in my throat, completely blocking my airway. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't make a sound. Not even a whisper to call for help.

 

The panic was immediate and overwhelming. I stood up, knocking my chair backward, instinctively clutching my throat. Living alone meant there was no one to notice my distress, no one to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre, and no one to call Triple Zero.

 

In those terrifying moments, I realised how utterly unprepared I was for this simple yet deadly emergency. The knowledge that thousands of people die each year from choking suddenly became very personal — and I was facing the very real possibility of becoming another statistic.

Why Traditional Advice Fails When You're Alone

Most of us know what to do when someone else is choking. The back blows, the Heimlich manoeuvre — these techniques are taught in first aid courses across the country. But what happens when you're the one choking, and there's no one around to help?

 

The frightening reality is that conventional wisdom offers virtually no solution for solo choking emergencies. The Heimlich manoeuvre can't be effectively self-administered. Back blows are nearly impossible to perform on yourself with sufficient force. And the standard advice to "call emergency services" is useless when you can't speak.

 

For the millions of Australians who live alone — particularly elderly individuals — this represents a dangerous gap in personal safety that few people talk about until it's too late. And with ambulance response times averaging 8-15 minutes in many parts of Australia, help simply can't arrive in time for a choking emergency, where brain damage begins in just 4 minutes.

The Life-Saving Device in My Kitchen Drawer

This is where my story takes an unexpected turn. Just two weeks before my choking incident, I had read an article about a new anti-choking device being recommended by paramedics across Australia. It was called ChokeHero, and it promised something that seemed almost too good to be true — the ability to clear a blocked airway in seconds, even if you're alone.

 

Being cautious by nature, I had ordered one "just in case." It was sitting in my kitchen drawer, still in its packaging, when the emergency struck.

 

With my vision starting to blur from lack of oxygen, I remembered the device and lunged for the drawer. My hands shaking, I tore open the package and followed the three simple steps I had read about: Place, Press, Pull.

 

I placed the mask over my mouth, pressed to create a seal, and pulled to create suction. In an instant, the piece of bread that was killing me dislodged and I could breathe again. The entire emergency, from the moment I started choking to the moment the blockage was removed, lasted less than 30 seconds.

How ChokeHero Works When Nothing Else Can

What makes ChokeHero different from traditional choking remedies is its ingenious use of vacuum technology rather than relying on lung pressure. The device creates negative pressure that safely pulls the obstruction upward and out of the airway.

 

Unlike the Heimlich manoeuvre, which depends on having air in the lungs to force the object outward (air that's unavailable when you're fully choking), ChokeHero works even when you can't breathe at all. And most importantly for people like me who live alone, it can be used effectively by the person who is choking.

 

The device is remarkably simple: a mask that creates a seal around the mouth, and a one-way valve mechanism that generates powerful suction when pulled. It comes with two differently sized masks to fit both adults and children, making it suitable for the entire family.

 

"The science behind it is straightforward," explains Mark Ellis, a veteran paramedic with over 20 years of experience responding to emergencies across Australia. "But the impact is revolutionary, especially for those living alone or caring for vulnerable loved ones."

"I'm Not the Only One ChokeHero Has Saved"

After my experience, I started sharing my story with friends and on social media. What surprised me was how many people came forward with similar experiences. Jean Thompson, 72, from Adelaide, had saved herself from choking on a piece of steak while dining alone. Robert Clarke, 63, from Perth, had used ChokeHero when a piece of apple became lodged in his throat while working in his garden.

 

In each case, the outcome would likely have been tragic without this remarkable device. And in each case, the person had one thing in common with me — they were alone when choking struck.

 

"I've responded to far too many solo choking deaths in my career," says Mark Ellis. "The tragedy is that many of them could have been prevented with the right tool. That's why I believe ChokeHero should be in every home, especially for those who live alone or care for vulnerable individuals."

 

Since my incident, I've bought additional units for my car, my bedroom, and even sent one to my sister who lives by herself in Tasmania. It's become as essential to me as having smoke detectors or a first aid kit — perhaps even more so, given how quickly a choking emergency can turn fatal.

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Why Medical Professionals Across Australia Are Recommending It

It's not just paramedics who are talking about ChokeHero. Hospital doctors, aged care staff, and first aid instructors across Australia are now recommending it as an essential safety device, particularly for:

  • People who live alone
  • Elderly individuals
  • Parents of young children
  • Carers of people with swallowing difficulties
  • Anyone who wants to be prepared for a choking emergency

Dr. Elizabeth Richards, an emergency physician at Royal London Hospital, explains why: "Traditional methods like the Heimlich manoeuvre are still important, but they have significant limitations. They require another person to be present, they depend on physical strength, and they rely on air being in the lungs. ChokeHero addresses all these limitations with a simple, effective solution that anyone can use."

 

What makes this particularly relevant in Australia is our aging population, with more seniors living independently than ever before. For the 3.3 million elderly individuals who live alone in Australia, ChokeHero represents a critical safety net that was previously unavailable.

Peace of Mind You Can Keep in a Drawer

What strikes me most when I reflect on my experience is how ordinary everything was until the moment I began choking. I wasn't doing anything risky. I wasn't eating exotic foods. I was simply having lunch in my kitchen, as I'd done thousands of times before.

 

That's the unsettling reality of choking emergencies — they happen during life's most routine moments, when we least expect them. And for those of us who live alone, the stakes couldn't be higher.

 

ChokeHero has given me more than just a tool to use in an emergency; it's given me peace of mind. I no longer worry about what would happen if I started choking again. I know exactly what I would do, and I have the means to save myself.

Special Offer for Australian Readers: Be Prepared Before You Need It

In the months since my incident, ChokeHero has gained significant attention in medical communities across Australia. To help more people protect themselves and their loved ones, the team behind ChokeHero is making a special offer available to readers of this article.

 

For a limited time, you can secure your own ChokeHero at a special discount, with additional savings available when you purchase the Family Safety Package. This allows you to keep one at home, one in your car, and one with elderly parents or children who live away from home.

 

Each ChokeHero comes with a 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee, meaning you can try it, practice with it, and keep it on hand with complete confidence. If for any reason you're not satisfied, you'll receive a full refund with no questions asked.

Why Acting Now Could Save a Life

The most important lesson from my experience is that preparation matters. By the time a choking emergency happens, it's already too late to order a ChokeHero. The four minutes it takes for brain damage to begin is simply not enough time for help to arrive.

 

Here's why taking action today makes sense:

Limited-Time Special Offer — Available while supplies last

60-Day Risk-Free Guarantee — Complete peace of mind

Growing Demand Across Australia — Supplies are limited due to increasing awareness

Comprehensive Protection — For yourself and those you care about

As someone who narrowly survived a choking emergency thanks to having ChokeHero within reach, I can't stress enough how important this simple preparation can be. What seems like a small decision today could literally be life-saving tomorrow.

 

Don't wait until you're in the situation I was in. Order ChokeHero today and give yourself and your loved ones the protection and peace of mind you deserve.

Extremely Limited Inventory

Date Update Due to the overwhelming popularity of ChokeHero since its launch, the team has decided to extend their first-time buyer 50% off discount. They only ask that you tell your family & friends about your positive experience with ChokeHero.