Local server hailed as hero for saving a life

STURGIS, S.D. — It was a typical start to Shiloe’s day.

Shiloe who moved from his hometown of Pierre two months ago, got his first job in Sturgis as a part-time server at Red’s Grill and Pub. It was his turn to take a table when a family of three, a couple and their daughter, arrived to dine-in.

Shiloe says he took their order and proceeded as he normally would. He shortly thereafter brought them their food. While he tended to another table, he heard the daughter yelling across the bar that her father was choking and Shiloe sprung into action.

“I looked over and jumped behind him. He was sitting at a booth so I was behind him and tried the Heimlich Maneuver I couldn’t get that done,” said Shiloe King. “I ran into the kitchen I said ‘Guys, I need your help I have a guy choking out here. I can’t do the Heimlich Maneuver on him when he’s in a booth.’”

The kitchen staff rushed to get the victim out of the booth and into a standing position. The man was still coherent at the time but was turning blue. Shiloe who worked as a CNA in Pierre two years ago says he knew he was doing the Heimlich Maneuver correctly, but was unsuccessful in restoring the victim’s airway. He made the quick decision to try a different tactic.

“I got in front of him and opened up his mouth and his tongue had swelled, which sometimes happens and he couldn’t hear me but I said ‘Man, I‘m so sorry but I‘m going to have to stick my fingers in your mouth to get this food out,’” Shiloe recalls. “So I got in and pulled out the food and it was like immediately you could just see the color come back to his face and he took a gasp of air.”

Shiloe, who is now considered a hometown hero, says he is grateful that he was at the right place at the right time.

“We kinda joke here now that not all superheroes wear capes some of us wear servers aprons.”