UPDATE: Store manager says no dare was involved, employee is OK.



KALAMAZOO, MI — A 22-year-old employee of Jimmy John's sandwich shop nearly choked to death on sandwich meat Wednesday night after accepting a dare from a fellow employee.

According to a news release from Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, the man was lying on the floor of the sandwich shop at 3116 S. Westnedge Ave., unresponsive and blue, when officers arrived shortly before 10 p.m.

Witnesses at the restaurant said the employee tried to swallow six pieces of Italian meat in a dare with another employee. The meat became lodged in the employee’s throat.

Fellow employees had attempted the Heimlich maneuver on the subject to no avail. PSO Keaton Nielsen immediately began life saving measures, eventually dislodging the airway obstruction, but the employee remained unresponsive and unable to breath. Nielsen administered breathing assistance for approximately one minute until the employee was able to breathe on his own.

The employee was transported to Bronson Methodist Hospital.