SC girl uses Heimlich to save friend’s life

It was a scary moment for two sixth graders at Alice Drive Middle School in Sumter, South Carolina.

Brianna Gandy was enjoying her lunch when she began to choke.

“The first thing that came to my mind was, am I going to die?“ Brianna said.

Her best friend, Kendyl Gray-McDonald came to the rescue, by using the technique her mom taught her weeks before.

“If it wasn’t for her, I probably would have died,“ Brianna said.

“I’m not a real life-saver to be honest,“ Kendyl said. “I don’t go around saving people’s lives everyday.“

While Brianna ate her beef stew and potatoes, she began choking during regular lunchtime conversation.

“Someone made a joke and I kind of laughed,“ Brianna said. “It was just stuck in there and I was just trying to cough it up and everything.“

Kendyl said she looked over to see Brianna red-faced and unable to talk.

“I just kind of felt dizzy, I remember one point it was just like black,“ Brianna said.

Kendyl said she was scared, but she quickly leapt into action.

“I hesitated for like two seconds, then I did the Heimlich,“ Kendyl said.

Her Mom taught the Heimlich Maneuver to her just weeks before.

“She told me to put my hands like this, like a fist and my hand over it, and right here where your ribs, right there, put it there and then go like that because it pushes it up and out,“ Kendyl explained as she demonstrated the Heimlich.

Brianna says she felt arms around her trying to push the food out.

“With here doing that and me coughing, it just kinda like plopped up in my mouth, and then I had to spit it out,“ Brianna said.

Kendyl said she heard Brianna take a deep breath and she knew she was okay.

Brianna’s mother, Lorie Gandy, says she’s extremely grateful.

“I thank the lord that Kendyl was there able to do that, because my daughter didn’t know what to do,“ Lorie said. “I don’t know what I would do without her.“

Marcia Gray, Kendyl’s mother, couldn’t be prouder of her.

“I was surprised and extremely proud of her,“ Marcia said.

Pride aside, Marcia just hopes Kendyl’s brave act gets parents to teach their kids about the Heimlich.

“Hey, if you know the procedure, definitely show your kids,“ Marcia said.

Kendyl says she doesn’t think of herself as a hero. She’s just glad to be best friend.

“She’s basically the bestest friend I’ve ever had,“ Brianna said.