An off-duty nurse has been widely praised online after calmly saving a woman who was choking during a meal at a café inside Pantai Hospital Ipoh earlier this month.
The incident took place on the morning of May 4 at a branded coffee outlet located within the hospital compound. According to a Facebook post by the hospital, the nurse, identified as Siti Maisurah, had just completed her night shift at Ward 2 and was waiting nearby for her son’s follow-up medical appointment.
A 56-second video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, showed the nurse dressed in casual clothes and seated like other patrons before chaos suddenly erupted nearby.
A woman was reportedly choking and struggling to breathe while her panicked family members called for help.
Without hesitation, Siti rushed forward and immediately performed the Heimlich manoeuvre. Relying on her professional training and quick instincts, she remained calm throughout the emergency situation.
Moments later, the woman successfully expelled the object blocking her airway and was able to breathe again, preventing what could have turned into a serious tragedy.
The video later showed hospital representatives presenting Siti with a gift in appreciation of her actions.
In its post, the hospital described the nurse as more than just a healthcare worker during the critical moment, calling her “a frontline of life” whose actions reflected the spirit of the 2026 International Nurses Day theme: “Our Nurses, Our Future; Caring For Nurses Strengthens Economies.”
The viral video has so far garnered more than 1,900 likes, 184 shares and dozens of positive comments, with many netizens praising Siti’s courage, professionalism and composure under pressure.
Many also said the clip should be shared more widely to raise public awareness about emergency first aid and the importance of learning life-saving techniques such as the Heimlich manoeuvre.
