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Woman reunites with first responders who saved her when she almost choked to death

Karen Conway was eating with her nephew on April 5 when she suddenly started choking on a piece of steak.

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In an emotional reunion on Wednesday, a woman cried and embraced the Fort Lauderdale first responders who jumped in to save her when she choked during dinner last month.

Karen Conway was eating with her nephew on April 5 when she suddenly started choking on a piece of steak.

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She gasped for air, and then passed out.

An off-duty firefighter started doing chest compressions, then Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue showed up and jumped into action, officials said.

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Firefighters said Conway had a pulse but was barely breathing and even turned blue. They saw the piece of steak lodged deep in her throat and then used a device to pull it out.

Conway spent nearly a week in the ICU and still had to use a breathing machine when she got home.

She got emotional when she reunited with the first responders a month later on Wednesday.

"They have no idea what this means to someone that they save. I’m sorry. He literally saved my life, him and his crew," Conway said. "To see someone’s face that you’ve been thinking about and replaying this in your head for a month. It’s a lot."

Conway said she’s doing much better but is still not back to 100 percent. She still has some pain but is just grateful she survived.

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