FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. --
A Fernandina Beach fire captain is being called a hero by a woman who said he saved her from choking to death.
Robin Avant was getting something to eat at the Fernandina Beach Shrimp Festival earlier this month when a piece of sausage dog got caught in her throat and she couldn't breathe.
"I don't recall taking in anything big -- it was kind of small -- and I started choking," Avant said. "I started panicking and thought if no one could help me, I was going to pass away."
But that's not what happened. Fire Capt. Willie Scott was off duty, walking around the same festival with his family. He said that when he saw Avant choking, he acted on instinct and performed the Heimlich maneuver.
"I'm just glad I was in the area at the time," Scott said.
After a few hard pushes, Scott forced the sausage dog out and Avant took a big gulp of air.
Scott, a firefighter for 31 years, also volunteers as an instructor for CPR classes and teaches Heimlich maneuver. He said these lifesaving techniques are something every person should know.
"It's something very important," Scott said. "It's good to know if you need it."
Avant calls Scott a lifesaver. He said he was just glad he could help.
"I'm just glad it turned out the way it did," Scott said. "I was able to help her have her life another day."
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