FIFE LAKE — & A normal lunch turned into a life-saving moment on Nov. 11 at Forest Area Community Schools when an 11-year-old student began choking and a quick response from a classmate and teacher ended the emergency within seconds.

Noah McKee said he tried to get the piece of food out of his throat before he fell to the ground.

“I tried to get it out,” he said.

Ten-year-old Harper Dontje immediately ran to find teacher Marcus Mead.

“I ran as fast as I could,” she said.

Mead said he performed the Heimlich maneuver three times before the cucumber was dislodged.

He later reviewed the incident with Noah on school security footage and said the entire situation lasted about 30 to 40 seconds.

He said Harper “handled everything perfectly.”

Noah said he returned to class after watching th

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