3:07pm UK, Thursday August 22, 2002

Friends star Jennifer Aniston has saved a man from choking to death in a restaurant, according to reports.

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Jennifer kept cool

As other diners panicked, the actress leapt into action and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on the stranger, who had got some food lodged in his throat.

Jennifer, 33, and a male companion were having dinner on Tuesday night at a Mexican restaurant in Hollywood when the man started gasping for breath, reported the Daily Star.

Struggling

An eyewitness said: "Jennifer saw the man struggling for breath and made a beeline for him and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre.

"She's a heroine - she undoubtedly saved the guy's life. Everyone else was rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do.

"Thanks to her cool thinking she stopped this guy from dying.

"After recovering, the man couldn't believe what had happened - that Jennifer Aniston had saved his life."

Meal

After she performed the life-saving technique, the Hollywood star calmly continued with her meal.

But Jennifer confessed she had been a little anxious and had to have a cigarette to calm her nerves.

A friend of Jen's said: "She learned how to perform the Heimlich years ago, but had never had to use it before.

"Luckily it all came back to her."