Brave girl performs Heimlich manoeuvre with no hesitation to save woman choking on tapioca pearls in China

An 11-year-old girl in Northeast China's Shenyang, Liaoning Province, saved a woman from choking on tapioca pearls by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre on her.

Citing local news outlet Liaoning Daily,Global Times reported that the incident took place at a newly opened hotpot restaurant in Huanggu District in Shenyang on Aug. 8.

Woman choked on tapioca pearls after drinking bubble tea

According to local television broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), as reported in 8world, the woman was eating hotpot at the restaurant when she found the food a bit too spicy and decided to take a sip of bubble tea to ease the spiciness.

However, she choked on the tapioca pearls and was unable to breathe.

Her friends and restaurant staff quickly rushed to pat her back in an effort to help, but to no avail.

Unable to speak, the woman tried to gesture for someone to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on her but no one understood what she meant.

The girl, Hu Zihan, who was sitting at the neighbouring table, stood up and offered to help but the staff did not pay much attention to her, possibly due to her young age.

However, Hu recalled that her Red Cross teacher had told her that the first four minutes are the "golden window" for a rescue.

Determined not to waste any time, she rushed forward to wrap her hands around the woman and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on her.

Understanding what Hu was doing, the woman immediately bent down to cooperate.

Global Times reported that after about 30 seconds, the woman coughed up three tapioca pearls and was finally able to breathe again.

She immediately turned around and hugged Hu to express her gratitude.

Hu is a Red Cross volunteer

8world reported that Hu is a volunteer at Liaoning Red Cross Society and had learned the Heimlich manoeuvre just a few days earlier on Aug. 1.

Top photos via CCTV.com