Congressman Pete P. Gallego saves choking boy’s life on airplane flight

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Texas Democratic Congressman, Pete P. Gallego (TX-23), quickly jumped into action while riding on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to San Antonio on Friday, July 25, 2014, to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on a three year old boy, Chase Flippen, of Helotes, Texas who was choking on some chicken nuggets in mid-flight as the child’s mother, Paige Hoch Flippen, cried out for help to her fellow passengers.

Congressman Gallego placed one hand behind the back and the other on the front chest of Chase Flippen and to the script pumped the boy’s chest causing the boy to spew the food out onto Gallego’s suit and body, saving the child from choking to death in mid-air.

Gallego stated that being a father himself he had previously learned the Heimlich Maneuver just in case he ever needed to use it. Never in Congressman Gallego’s wildest dreams did he ever think he would need to use the Heimlich Maneuver on an airplane flight.

Paige Hoch Flippen, the child’s mother, was very grateful to the quick-thinking and response by Congressman Gallego and for saving her boy’s life.

Congressman Gallego was glad to have been in the right place at the right time to help out little Chase Flippen, just as he does to all of his constituents of the 23rd Congressional District of Texas.