CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A server at Applebee's on Sam's Circle in Chesapeake became a hero when he saved a choking customer's life during what was supposed to be a birthday dinner celebration.
Harvey Miller had only been working at the restaurant for a couple of weeks when the emergency unfolded on a Sunday evening. A customer enjoying her steak dinner suddenly began choking, and the bartender quickly alerted the rest of the staff.
"One of our patrons was enjoying a lovely steak, and she got it lodged in her throat, and the bartender summoned us in the kitchen that there was somebody choking," Miller said.
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Without hesitation, Miller sprang into action, drawing on years of experience as a Boy Scout and later as a Boy Scout leader.
"Fortunately, I was a Boy Scout most of my life, and a Boy Scout leader after that. So, it was an easy fix. It was easy to come to the rescue to help her," Miller said.
He said he didn't think twice about helping. He immediately approached the customer, asked if she was choking, and when she confirmed she was, he performed abdominal thrusts that successfully dislodged the food.
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"I just, I hopped to it. It was no thought at all. You know, we knew she was choking. You always ask the first question, can you breathe? Are you choking?’ She acknowledged she was and then I grabbed her and was able to give her some, some thrust in her abdomen, and fortunately, it came right out," Miller said.
The customer Miller saved was Deborah Goldsmith, who was celebrating a birthday dinner with her fiancé that evening. Goldsmith reached out to News 3 that night to share Miller's heroic actions.
During a surprise reunion arranged by News 3, Goldsmith met Miller properly for the first time since the incident.
"I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to even learn your name that day. I'm Harvey," Miller said.
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"Hi Harvey, Thank you so much. You just don't know a blessing," Goldsmith replied.
"Oh, my goodness, I couldn't have been here today. So, thank you. You just saved my life. That's what you did. I appreciate everything I really do," Goldsmith said.
Miller received News 3's Everyday Hero Award and a $300 Visa gift card from partner Southern Bank for his quick thinking and life-saving actions.
Miller credits his Boy Scout background for preparing him for the emergency and encourages others to learn similar skills.
"I would advocate for the Boy Scouts. I would advocate for First Aid, CPR, and just being around some positive people like my family here at Applebee's," Miller said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
