Photo:Mark Von Holden/E! Entertainment/NBC via Getty
Mark Von Holden/E! Entertainment/NBC via Getty
Romain Bonnetis opening up about the terrifying moment his friendTarek El Moussahad to act quickly to save his life.
During an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, theSelling Sunsetstar recalled going to the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. with his wifeMary Bonnetto watch the Anaheim Ducks play the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 2, 2023. Tarek andHeather El Moussaalso joined the couple to enjoy the hockey game alongside a few other friends.
The group decided to have dinner downstairs at the VIP Impact Club before the game. Romain recalls that after barely eating all day because of his busy schedule, he eagerly dug into the steak he ordered immediately. Then the unthinkable happened.
“I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t say anything,” the model/contractor recalls after realizing he was choking on his food. “The first thought I had was to grab some water and try to drink it.” He adds that the water made it worse because it created more of a blockage in his airway.
“It was at that point that I couldn’t breathe,” he says.
Romain Bonnet and Tarek El Moussa at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California.Mark Von Holden/E! Entertainment/NBC via Getty
While Tarek was getting up to grab another drink, he noticed Romain was struggling.
“He said, ‘You okay?’ and I just shake my head. I’m like, ‘No,’” Romain says. Tarek then “understood right away” what was happening and started doing the Heimlich maneuver on him.
Reflecting on the moment, Romain tells PEOPLE, “That was really scary. I’m glad my friend was there for me.”
In the moments after Tarek helped him, Romain says there was some discomfort but he still tried to enjoy the game. He adds his wife andSelling Sunsetco-star Mary was “terrified” during the incident and constantly kept checking on him alongside Tarek and Heather.
Romain shares that after the game, Mary started looking into online training courses to be prepared in case something similar ever happens again.
Romain and Mary Bonnet in August 2023.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
“Unfortunately, in many cases it’s almost too late and people think about getting training only once it happens. So, in my case, I was fortunate enough to have my friend to be there to help me,” Romain says.
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According toMount Sinai, it’s important to “act fast” and begin abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver) if someone is unable to speak due to choking on food or another object. Along with the inability to speak, common symptoms of choking include difficulty breathing, a bluish skin color, weak coughing, high-pitched breathing and a loss of consciousness.
To learn more about the Heimlich maneuver and symptoms of choking, visitmountsinai.org.
source: people.com
