KWTX reporter saves choking KWTX anchor
A veteran television reporter put his skills to work Tuesday evening in the KWTX newsroom and saved the life of a co-worker who was choking.
John Carroll, who has told stories about places, events and people around Central Texas over the last 40 years, was wrapping up for the day Tuesday when he realized that news anchor Justin Earley was in obvious distress.
Earley had stood up from his desk where he was eating dinner and was gasping loudly.
"I looked at Justin and his face was beet-red, then I noticed he couldn't breathe," Carroll said.
"I was in trouble," Earley said, emphasizing he knew what was happening because he'd experienced it before.
Carroll, who had returned to his desk to pick up a document he forgot to take with him, dropped his backpack, grabbed Earley from behind and performed the Heimlich maneuver, which he admitted Wednesday he'd never done before.
"I tried it twice and nothing was happening, so I said ‘Lord help me, please,' and I tried one more time with all my strength, then out it came."
"Justin's a big man," said Carroll, who’s probably weighs 35 to 45 pounds less than Earley and is at least 25 years older.
“It took all my strength, but in the end it worked."
"John knew I was in trouble and he acted immediately to help," Earley said.
Earley had a similar experience several months earlier, but said that time he was alone at the time.
"I thought I was gone, but I finally was able to get it taken care of, but that was scary," he said.
The choking experience is extremely frightening, whether you realize what's happening or not, Earley said.
"It was very frightening this time but at least I wasn't alone," Earley said.
The incident happened so quickly that many others in the newsroom weren’t even aware Earley was in trouble.
"I didn't think about it,” Carroll said.
“I just wanted to help him somehow and when I realized he was not breathing, choking was the obvious problem."
It happened during the 6 p.m. newscast.
"John saved his (Justin's) life yesterday, morning anchor Pete Sousa said, "and if he hadn't done that, Justin could have died right there."
Earley, who also anchors the 5 p.m. news on KWTX went on to anchor the 9 p.m. news on CW12 later that night.
"I'm sincerely grateful to John for helping me in that terrifying moment. I can't thank him enough," Earley said.
"I was in my office all that time and I didn't hear a thing," News Director Bob Walters said.
"Then I talked with Justin and John and Tara all three when I left the newsroom and nobody said anything about it, then when I found out I was glad John had the presence of mind to act."
