Dramatic moment heroic SoCal restaurant owner flies into action to save choking customer
A restaurant owner in El Monte, California, saved a choking customer using the Heimlich maneuver. Maria Molina acted quickly after realizing the customer was unable to breathe, despite never having taken a CPR class. Following the incident, Molina and her employees plan to enroll in CPR classes to be better prepared in the future.
- ▪Maria Molina, the owner of Carnitas Y Chicharrones 'El Gallo', saved a choking customer outside her restaurant.
- ▪Molina performed the Heimlich maneuver after realizing the customer could not breathe.
- ▪The customer later thanked Molina for saving his life and allowed her to share the surveillance video.
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Metro Dramatic moment heroic SoCal restaurant owner flies into action to save choking customer By Nina Joudeh Published June 5, 2026, 2:11 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google An El Monte restaurant owner is being hailed as a hero after jumping into action to save a choking customer outside her busy eatery. Surveillance footage captured the dramatic scene Sunday at Carnitas Y Chicharrones “El Gallo,” where owner Maria Molina said she was alerted that one of her regular customers was in distress. 4 Restaurant owner Maria Molina said she was alerted that one of her regular customers was in distress. Instagram/@unityinelmonte 4 Molina performed the Heimlich maneuver on the customer, despite never having taken a CPR class.
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