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'Praise God I was there': Jersey Mike's Subs employee saves customer's life

Within seconds, Drew McConnell went from team leader to life saver.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Drew McConnell was working as usual on Thursday at Jersey Mike's Subs when a customer was in need of emergency assistance.

"There was a lady that came over to the counter asking for help, I looked up and saw someone was choking," McConnell said.

McConnell immediately ran around the counter without hesitation and sprung into action. Surveillance video shows him performing life-saving measures on the woman.

"So I just ran down this way, I knew it was happening and it was right about here where she was choking and I started performing the Heimlich maneuver on her," he said.   

Within seconds, McConnell went from team leader to life saver.

"It took a few tries but she started coughing and that's when I knew she was okay," he said.

Video shows where the customer's friend was trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver on her while she was sitting down.

Once the woman got out her chair it made the life saving measure easier for McConnell to perform. 

This is the first time McConnell has ever saved someone's life. He's crediting skills he learned at U of L as an exercise science major. 

"That's why I was able to take a CPR class in order to skip a three hour credit class," e said.

The next day the woman came into the store and thanked McConnell for his act of kindness with a note that read 'thank you for saving my life.'

"Praise God I was there you know he works in mysterious ways and I just so happen to be the person who could do it," he said.

He's now hoping more people will get certified after this emergency.

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