Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Wilton Jackson

MLB Fan Saved Choking Man While in the Stands at Nationals-Padres Game

Todd Covington entered Nationals Park to watch the Nationals battle against the Padres in the second of a three-game series on Wednesday. By the time he exited the stadium, Covington had not only witnessed Washington secure a 5–3 victory but found himself being lauded as a hero for saving a man’s life who was choking during the game. 

Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan in Washington reported that when a group of fans sitting in section 113 in Nationals Park noticed that the man was choking, they immediately stopped watching the game and called for assistance. That’s when Covington hopped two rows down and performed the Heimlich maneuver.

According to Paulsen, Covington applied the maneuver for nearly 20 seconds and also pounded the man’s back to remove the object that was hindering his breathing ability. The man thanked Covington for his help and gave him a big hug after completing the procedure.

However, when Covington—a nurse and firefighter from Kansas City—was tabbed as a hero by fans, he diverted the praise and stated that he was simply “watching the game” and ended up being in the right place at the right time.

“We just chalk it up to another one for the good guys,” Covington said in a brief interview with Paulsen.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.