ESPN's Peter Burns Saved by Heroic Bystander After Choking Incident

ESPN personality Peter Burns experienced a life-threatening choking incident during dinner in Columbia, Missouri, but a certified nurse named Jack Foster intervened and saved his life.

ESPN personality Peter Burns was overcome with emotion on his show Monday as he recounted the harrowing experience of choking on a piece of steak during dinner over the weekend. The incident occurred in Columbia, Missouri, ahead of Saturday's game between Boston College and Missouri, where Burns had been covering the game.

Burns, who joined the SEC Network in 2014, was enjoying dinner with coworkers when, during the excitement of the conversation, a piece of steak became lodged in his throat. "Immediately, I knew I was choking," Burns recalled. "It was not just 'OK, I don't feel well.'"

ESPN's Peter Burns Saved by Heroic Bystander After Choking Incident

Panic ensued as Burns realized the seriousness of the situation. Two individuals, including the restaurant owner, attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver, but their efforts were unsuccessful. "All of a sudden, we're about a minute and a half into this and I see the world kind of just collapsing on me," Burns said.

Just when Burns felt like his life was slipping away, a certified nurse named Jack Foster stepped in. Foster, who was dining with his family at a nearby table, noticed the distress and rushed to Burns' aid. "I hear some lady say, 'Hey, this guy's a nurse,'" Burns recounted.

ESPN's Peter Burns Saved by Heroic Bystander After Choking Incident

Foster's intervention proved crucial. After administering the Heimlich maneuver again, he was finally able to dislodge the piece of food that had been obstructing Burns' airway. Burns described the moment as a life-altering experience.

"You literally have this moment where your life flashes in front of your eyes," an emotional Burns recalled. "You start thinking about family and my kids and how lucky you are in life."

ESPN's Peter Burns Saved by Heroic Bystander After Choking Incident

Burns expressed his immense gratitude to Foster for saving his life. "I want to thank Jack Foster for saving my life over on Friday," Burns said. "He's a youth sports coach and he had just gone through CPR training."

The incident has prompted Burns to reflect on the importance of cherishing every moment. "The lesson is taking every moment that you have and being positive and loving," he said. "You don't know when something like that's going to happen."

Despite the harrowing experience, Burns walked away with a renewed appreciation for life. He sustained four fractured ribs as a result of the intense efforts to dislodge the steak, but he considers himself fortunate to be alive.

Burns' experience serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and responding to medical emergencies promptly. His gratitude for the heroic actions of Jack Foster underscores the profound impact that individuals can have on the lives of others in moments of crisis.