CBS2 Exclusive: Off-Duty New Jersey Trooper Reunites With Choking Man After Saving His Life

ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A heart-stopping restaurant rescue as caught on camera in New Jersey this past weekend, when an off-duty state trooper jumped out of his chair to save a choking man's life.

CBS2's Lisa Rozner spoke exclusively to the two men as they reunited Thursday.

Video shows Todd Hendricks of Pennsylvania start choking at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Rockaway Township on Sunday.

New Jersey State Trooper Dennis Palaia, who was at the restaurant with his 6-year-old son, noticed the man in distress and ran over to help.

On Thursday, Hendricks traveled almost two hours from Pennsylvania just to be able to say thank you to Officer Palaia.

"He didn't even think twice, you know -- he jumped right into action and saved my life," Hendricks said.

The two met at the very same Buffalo Wild Wings where Hendricks had choked on a spicy wing.

"That was probably the scariest point is you can't breathe," Hendricks said. "You're blacking out. You're looking at your own son -- that'll give you a reality check real quick."

Lucky for him, the off-duty officer was at the next table, and ran over to perform the Heimlich maneuver.

"I heard the sound, and I didn't want to just look in case it was nothing," Palaia said.

Hendricks says he was trying to wash down the spicy sauce from his boneless chicken tender -- called chicken wings at the restaurant -- when the food got stuck. Officer Palaia put his arms around Hendricks and squeezed him five times to get the food out.

Assistant manager K.D. Murphy helped talk to Hendricks as Officer Palaia tried to save him.

"I spoke with him in a calm voice and said 'All right, sir -- just keep breathing through your nose, we want to get this out of you as fast as we can,'" Murphy said. "I told him if you keep breathing it gives us the opportunity to save your life."

When asked if he would call Palaia a hero, Hendricks said, "Absolutely, 100 percent."

Both Hendricks and Palaia said they come to the Buffalo Wild Wings regularly, but Hendricks said thanks to Palaia, he will be able to return again. He hopes their next encounter isn't quite as dramatic

And when he returns, Hendricks says no hot wings-- his sons banned him. There will only be regular chicken going forward.

Meanwhile, the restaurant plans to honor Palaia this weekend, and will offer him free wings for a year.

Palaia said this was the first time he had to perform the Heimlich Maneuver, which he trains for regularly.