SALEM, Ore. -- A Salem woman credited a Marion County Sheriff's deputy with saving her life after he performed the Heimlich maneuver on her.
It happened Dec. 21 while Angelica Sandoval was working at DeDe’s Deli on Lancaster Drive Southeast. Sandoval said she was eating a bag of potato chips when one got stuck in her throat.
“All of a sudden I couldn't breathe,” said Sandoval. “I felt like someone was choking me.”
Surveillance video showed Sandoval hunched over, gasping for air. Sandoval’s co-worker, Cassie Sarff, stepped in to help.
“You could tell she was choking,” said Sarff. “So, I just started doing the Heimlich.”
Unfortunately, Sarff’s attempts weren’t working. At that moment, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Gregg Ramseyer walked into the deli. He was there to pick up surveillance video to aid in a separate case.
“He came up from behind, picked [Sandoval] up and just…made it look easy!” Sarff said. “For me, it wasn't easy. I was terrified!”
Within moments, the chip was dislodged and Sandoval was breathing again.
“We couldn't be more proud,” said Marion County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Baldridge, who said Ramseyer declined requests for interviews.
“Gregg is a very humble guy and I appreciate that about him,” said Baldridge.
Sandoval said she thanked Ramseyer, and called him her angel.
“He just said, ‘Oh, you're welcome.’ Like he just did me this little, tiny favor,” said Sandoval. “No. He saved me.”
Because of that, Sandoval could go home to her husband and kids that night.
“I told them, ‘I love you,’ and I gave them a hug,” said Sandoval.
Lt. Baldridge said Ramseyer’s response earned him a nomination for a life-saving award. He also likened it the work of his fellow officers.
“This happens regularly with deputies,” said Baldridge. “They do these amazing things, and then we don't hear about them until somebody else talks about it.”
A couple weeks after the choking scare, Sandoval said she ran into Deputy Ramseyer. On that occasion, she asked to take a picture with him and he complied.
“Everyone needs to know he's a hero,” said Sandoval. “He didn't want anyone to know about it.”
Now, they do.