Off-duty Neb. firefighter saves 2nd life in 12 days

Firefighter Phil Lopez administers Heimlich maneuver to choking woman 2 days after rushing man to safety from house fire

OMAHA, Neb. — A firefighter in Omaha has made his second off-duty save in a matter of days.

Firefighter Phil Lopez proved to be in the right place at the right time yet again when he saved a choking woman in Omaha, Neb.

Firefighter Lopez was eating with his family at a local restaurant when he noticed a woman having difficulty breathing Tuesday, according to KETV.

"I just kept an eye on her," Firefighter Lopez said.

He followed Erin Byrne as she left her table choking. Despite never having used it in his 16 years on the Omaha Fire Department, Firefighter Lopez successfully administered the Heimlich maneuver.

"I really do feel like he is my hero," Byrne said.

Two days earlier, on Jan. 15, Firefighter Lopez was driving to a gym after his shift when he saw a house fire, according to the World-Herald. He called 911, woke a man sleeping inside and brought him to safety.

"I just happened to be, once again, at the right place at the right time," Firefighter Lopez said.