Muesli Mogul's Terrifying Steak Choke Ordeal

Carolyn Creswell, the founder of Carman's Muesli, experienced a near-fatal choking incident in November 2024 at her home. While dining with friends, a piece of steak became lodged in her throat, leading to a dramatic 30-minute struggle for survival. The ordeal was partially captured by home security cameras, showing her collapse after attempting to dislodge the blockage.

Her husband, Peter, initiated CPR after the Heimlich maneuver failed, having learned the skill through their children's activities. Paramedics arrived and utilized a laryngoscope to extract the significant steak blockage from Creswell's airway. The process of clearing the obstruction and performing CPR resulted in her sustaining nine broken ribs and a broken sternum.

Following a week in intensive care, Creswell, 52, has made a full recovery. She expressed profound gratitude for being alive and credited her husband's swift actions and the paramedics' expertise for saving her life. This incident highlights the dangers of choking, which causes hundreds of deaths in Australia annually, with food being a common culprit, particularly among young children and the elderly.