A birthday dinner for a Fairfield High School senior turned into a terrifying scramble to save her grandfather's life on Friday, October 9, when 75-year-old Brown Campbell began choking on cheese from his French onion soup at Jag's Steak & Seafood. Four restaurant employees jumped in with the Heimlich maneuver, CPR and an emergency suction device, working until paramedics arrived and Campbell started breathing again.
Campbell's family had gathered at the West Chester Township restaurant to celebrate his granddaughter Sophia's 18th birthday when the cheese became lodged in his throat, according to wlwt.com. His daughter, Christine Gorczyk, said four Jag's employees ultimately saved her father's life during the emergency. Her husband, Slawomir Gorczyk, and Jag's server Chris Barnes, a former Marine who served in a life rescue unit, each attempted the Heimlich maneuver on Campbell, but the obstruction would not clear and he lost consciousness.
Restaurant managers Monica Zestermann and Jennifer Matheney moved Campbell from his chair to the floor, and Jag's staff checked for a pulse when they could not find one. Zestermann, Matheney and Barnes took turns performing CPR while another employee grabbed a suction device to try to clear his airway. One of Gorczyk's daughters called 9-1-1 as the effort continued, and Dayton Daily News reports that Jag's server Ryan Roberge stayed with the family to help keep them calm while his coworkers worked on Campbell.
Why the Standard Rescue Maneuver Didn't Work
Doctors later told Campbell's wife, Sheila Campbell, that the Heimlich maneuver hadn't cleared the blockage because the cheese was too stringy to be expelled the way a piece of hard food normally would. WLWT reports the restaurant's staff also used an emergency anti-choking device called a LifeVac as part of their response, continuing their efforts until West Chester Township firefighters arrived and took over his care.
Campbell began breathing again before he was transported to West Chester Hospital, where doctors monitored his recovery. Per the same report, he remained hospitalized until Sunday, October 11, before returning home to Fairfield Township. His daughter said he has suffered no apparent lasting effects from the ordeal.
Accounts of Campbell's underlying health differ slightly. WLWT reported that his family said he has Parkinson's disease, dementia and a history of heart problems, while Dayton Daily News's reporting describes him as having Parkinson's disease and heart issues without mentioning dementia.
Strangers Step In to Comfort the Family
As the emergency unfolded, other diners at Jag's gathered around the Gorczyk family to offer comfort and prayer. One family at the restaurant quietly covered the bill for the Gorczyks' table, which included meals for two sons, two daughters, the parents and one guest. Christine Gorczyk said the strangers refused to let her family pay, even after everything had calmed down.
Sheila Campbell credited the Jag's employees with saving her husband's life, according to WLWT's reporting. In a company statement, Jag's Steak & Seafood praised employees Jen, Monica, Chris and Ryan for their quick thinking, compassion and actions during the emergency. Restaurant owner Michelle Brown said she was proud of how her team responded, and the restaurant is now considering expanding CPR training to additional employees.
Choking Risk Climbs Sharply With Age
Campbell's close call reflects a broader pattern among older adults. The National Safety Council reported that 5,553 people died from choking in 2022, making it the fourth-leading cause of unintentional injury death nationally, and the organization notes that choking death rates rise rapidly around age 71, with food often responsible for incidents involving elderly people. Ohio's state aging agency similarly describes choking and suffocation as the fourth leading cause of home injury death in the U.S., noting that older adults face increased risk due to a number of factors.
