SJA Cadet Millie, 16, used her first aid training to prevent a restaurant customer from choking

It was Remembrance Sunday last year and I’d just been to the parade where I live. As a St John Ambulance cadet, I've been going every year since I joined at 12. After it finished, I went with my dad to my auntie’s restaurant where I worked as a waitress. As soon as I walked in, I could hear someone struggling to breathe.

I saw a man in his mid-forties standing up and leaning on a table, barely able to breathe and turning purple.

Immediately my first aid training kicked in. I went over and asked him some questions but he couldn’t talk. He sounded like he was all bunged up. I told him to hold onto the back of the chair and lean forward, and then I gave him five back blows to try and dislodge the food but it didn’t work.

Whatever was stuck in his throat wasn’t going to budge unless he had abdominal thrusts but he was a lot bigger than me and I couldn't get my arms around him.

I went to the queue outside to find someone who was more similar in size to help me. Luckily, I found someone who agreed. I described exactly what to do and where he should put his hands and arms. After two thrusts a  big piece of chicken flew out of the patient and he started to breathe normally again.It was such a relief.

Afterwards I felt so proud of myself for saving someone’s life – I was buzzing all afternoon. I’m so pleased I got first aid training, it’s the best thing to have. You never know if you’re going to be in a situation where you might need to use it.