Heroic restaurant manager stresses need for first aid training after saving diner's life

A heroic restaurant manager has stressed the importance of regular first aid training after he saved the life of a choking customer using the Heimlich manoeuvre.

Cem Canpolat, who works at Turkish restaurant Tas the Cut, close to London's Waterloo, rushed over to help the customer on Saturday.

He told The Caterer: "He was so quiet and then I heard his wife scream. I ran over there and then realised he was choking, did the manoeuvre and saved him. I knew how to do it but had never done it in real life."

While Canpolat had never been called upon to use the Heimlich manoeuvre in his almost 13 years with the business, he had received regular first aid training, which he said the group ensures all members of staff receive every three to six months.

Tas Restaurants shared a video taken from its CCTV showing Canpolat coming to the customer's aid.

The restaurant manager explained: "It's the first time it's happened here, but it happens so many times in the restaurant business and we shared the video to get awareness so people can know how to do that. Everyone should see this and get an idea about it and restaurants should provide this training.

"It's really important for the business, really important to make customers welcome and secure."

Canpolat said that he has also attended a free, regular course run by London Ambulance Service in Waterloo and encouraged others to do the same, adding: "It can happen anywhere".

The video can be viewed

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