COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — A heartfelt reunion took place Tuesday, weeks after a Cook County police officer’s quick thinking helped save a mother choking on the side of the road.
Cook County sheriff’s police officer Zachary Finn, an 11-year veteran of the department, has since received high praise from local law enforcement. Still, perhaps the most significant acclaim comes from Laura Ann Munchenburg of Hammond, Indiana. Finn sprang into action when he noticed a choking Munchenburg outside of her vehicle.
Munchenburg spoke to WGN-TV on Oct. 28, describing what she believed would be her last moments as she ventured to pick up her husband in Ford Heights in late September. Feeling peckish, Munchenburg brought some bagel bites with her.
“I took a bite of it and I felt my nose tingling and I needed to sneeze, and as I gasped to sneeze, it got lodged in my throat,” Munchenburg said.
Cameras rolled overheard as she pulled over, trying to remain calm.
“The fear set in when you realize there’s no more breaths to take. There’s nobody helping, nobody is stopping,” Munchenburg said.
But it was at that moment that someone did stop: Cook County police officer Zachary Finn.
“I pulled up next to [the vehicle]. A female got out of the car, and she was holding her throat,” said Finn, adding that instincts took over after spotting the severity of the issue. The Cook County police officer began performing the Heimlich maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, to dislodge the stuck food in seconds as Munchenburg gasped for air.
“I guess when he turned me around, I was blue, and boom, he sprung into action,” she said.
Finn admitted that he had performed CPR before, but never the Heimlich maneuver prior to saving Munchenburg’s life. Paramedics arrived soon after, but Munchenburg declined further medical treatment and was able to drive away safely.
No lasting damage remains, Munchenburg added.
For his part, Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Dart praised Officer Finn for his life-saving heroics.
“Officer Finn was absolutely amazing. He didn’t hesitate; pulls right up, sees what’s going on, and jumps in and saves this woman’s life. It was fantastic,” Dart said. “He’ll be up for an award. We do these at the end of the year. But clearly, life-saving awards at minimum.”
Awards aside, both Dart and Finn emphasized the importance of learning life-saving techniques. It saved Munchenburg, who said that she is filled with gratitude that the right person arrived at the right time, when she needed them the most.
But she says no more eating while driving—and no bagels in the foreseeable future, all thanks to Officer Finn.
“If he didn’t [stop,] I wouldn’t be standing here today,” Munchenburg said. “So I’m very grateful. Extremely grateful. I’m grateful to Officer Finn for his quick thinking and for understanding that, even though I couldn’t speak and tell him what was going on, he knew.”