Clint saves life by performing the Heimlich Manoeuver

'It looked bad!' Clint Eastwood, 83, saves the life of choking golf director by performing the Heimlich Manoeuver

By Jonny Lopez, 7 February 2014, Mail online

He's an award winning actor and director. And now Clint Eastwood can add life saver to his resume.

The 83-year-old came to the rescue of a man that was choking while at a golf tournament in Pebble Beach, California on Wednesday. Eastwood was attending a volunteer party on the eve of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am when he noticed tournament director Steve John, 50, choking on a piece of cheese. The Dirty Harry star quickly performed the Heimlich Manoeuver while at the Monterey Conference Center.

Clint with Golf buddy Tiger Woods

The tournament director acknowledges that it was Clint's fast action that saved his life. 'I was drinking water and eating these little appetizers, threw down a piece of cheese and it just didn't work,' Steve said Friday. 'I was looking at him and couldn't breathe. He recognized it immediately and saved my life.' While Clint knew exactly what to do, it was actually the first time he ever used the Heimlich maneuver. 'I looked in his eyes and saw that look of panic people have when they see their life passing before their eyes,' Eastwood told The Carmel Pine Cone.  'It looked bad.' And despite his older age, Steve says Clint is still strong as ever. 'I can't believe I'm 202 pounds and he threw me up in the air three times.'

The 50-year-old survivor said it was the second time in his life someone had to perform the Heimlich on him. 'It was in Colorado about seven or eight years ago. But it wasn't Clint Eastwood,' he said.

'I haven't talked to him since that night. It was crazy.' The Invictus director is a prominent figure at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, formerly as an amateur contestant and now as chairman of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.  The foundation has risen over $100 million for charity as the host of the PGA Tour event. Clint is often in the CBS tower on the weekend and presents the trophy to the winner, a list that includes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker in recent years.

The party is one of the biggest nights of the week. Volunteers are entertained by the celebrities such as musician Kenny G and comedian Tom Dreesen.

Many thanks to my friend Kevin Wilkinson for sending me this story.