A member of the armed forces stepped in to help a diner who was choking on poultry at a venue in Abingdon.

Harry Stoopman, a former gardener, was eating dinner with his spouse Penny Clover at the Chaba Thai eatery on High Street in Abingdon when he started choking. He hurried outside trying to get air but his windpipe stayed obstructed and he became unconscious.

Marc Smith, based at Dalton Barracks, watched what was happening from the neighbouring Tipsy Mercer establishment and hurried over to help. The Regimental Sergeant Major carried out CPR, and following a few minutes of chest compressions, Stoopman started breathing once more.

Stoopman said there was no doubt in his thoughts that without Marc present the outcome would have been very different. The pair met for a drink at the Royal British Legion on Spring Road the following Wednesday.

The former Royal Air Force assistant air traffic controller said he completely owes his life to Marc for acting so quickly.

The 66-year-old and his wife Penny, who serves as a town councillor, are now urging others to sign up for first aid instruction to learn CPR and other techniques that can save lives.

Stoopman said he has a medical condition that can make swallowing difficult and he began choking on his meal. He went outside but could not breathe and the next thing he recalls was being in the ambulance. The pair want to make clear that the restaurant bears no responsibility whatsoever. With his condition he needs to stick to softer foods. They want to spread the message that as many people as possible should take a first aid course if they can and learn life-saving skills such as CPR.

Smith, a father of three who has left 4 Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps at Dalton Barracks after being promoted to Captain at 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment in Didcot, was with his wife Rachel when the incident took place.

An ambulance was sent out while Smith performed CPR. He remembered that Harry was not responding, had turned blue in the face and had no pulse detectable in his neck. He had been taught CPR during his Army service and completed four cycles of 60 seconds each over roughly four minutes before those with them started saying he was regaining consciousness.

Paramedics reached the scene minutes after the emergency call was made and transported Stoopman to John Radcliffe Hospital, where he was released in the early hours.

Mark Dowle, co-owner of Chaba Thai, said when he understood what was occurring he rang 999 and an ambulance crew arrived within a few minutes to take over from Marc. It was a tremendous relief that Harry recovered in the end and that Marc had been sitting in the window of The Tipsy Mercer and noticed what was happening.

First aid training is offered across Oxfordshire, with courses from Oxfordshire First Aid in Witney, St John Ambulance in Kidlington, Safe Haven Training in Oxford, and British Red Cross training at the Hilton Garden Inn in Abingdon.

The town’s Lions Club has bought six defibrillators for Abingdon, with one located near the Market Place.

South Central Ambulance Service has been asked to provide a comment.