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Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in Jump to content Open full menu UK Edition US Edition Asia Edition Edición en Español Log in Log in News Premium Sport Voices Culture Lifestyle IndyBest Travel More Swipe for next article Culture TV & Radio News Richard Madeley reveals near-death experience involving a piece of ‘very rare beef’ ‘I began to feel my world closing in,’ he says Sean O'Grady (PA) & Neve Dawson Tuesday 18 August 2026 11:02 BST Bookmark Comments Go to comments Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover Related: Richard Madeley shares terrifying ghost story Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice TV presenter Richard Madeley has said he nearly choked to death on a piece of “very rare beef ” before being saved by his sister. The 70-year-old said he swallowed the food without chewing properly during a “lively discussion”. The star said the piece of beef went “straight into the windpipe”. Speaking on ITV ’s Good Morning Britain to Dr Hilary Jones , Madeley said: “I tried to cough it up but I had no air in the lungs to do that. I suddenly realised I was choking . “Pandemonium ensued. People came round behind me, they were hammering on my back. The minutes ticked by and it wouldn’t dislodge. “After two-and-a-half, three minutes, I began to feel my world closing in, black dots coming on the side [of my eyes], I began to feel very weak and a calm sense of acceptance coming, ‘oh, this is it, this is how I’m going to go.’” open image in gallery TV presenter Richard Madeley has said he nearly choked to death on a piece of ‘very rare beef’ ( Getty ) Liz Lawrence, Madeley’s sister who is trained in performing the Heimlich manoeuvre, was present at the dinner and rushed in from the toilet to save him. Madeley said: “She did the Heimlich on me. One, two, three times and it didn’t work, it was still lodged. “I felt my knees give way and I went down and as I went down, thank God, she did it again. “The combination of gravity and her doing it harder than ever before dislodged the beef, got a little bit of air in and managed to cough it up, and 10 seconds later I was back in the room, but it was touch and go. “If she hadn’t known what to do, I would’ve died.” According to the North West Ambulance Service , there are a number of steps you can take should you think someone is choking. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. open image in gallery If the person becomes unresponsive, an emergency 999 call should be made immediately ( Getty/iStock ) The service advises members of the public to encourage the person choking “to cough to try to clear the blockage”, before leaning them forward and placing “five sharp blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand”, should coughing not prove effective. Should this still not work, it says to “clench one fist and place it just above their belly button, place your other hand on top of your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards”. This should be repeated up to five times. If the person becomes unresponsive, an emergency 999 call should be made immediately. More about Richard Madeley Beef Lungs Choking ITV Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments Most popular Popular videos Bulletin Read next Get in touch Contact us Our Products Subscribe Register Newsletters Donate Today’s Edition Install our app Archive Other publications International editions Independent en Español Independent Arabia Independent Turkish Independent Persian Independent Urdu The Standard Extras Puzzles All topics Betting offers Latest deals Competitions and offers Independent Advertising Independent Ignite Syndication Working at The Independent Legal Code of conduct and complaints Contributors Cookie policy Donations Terms & Conditions Privacy policy User policies Modern Slavery Statement Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
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