Sabiha Gökçen Airport staff rescue choking toddler with Heimlich maneuver

On the evening of 19 May, a two‑year‑old boy named Liam began choking on a small bead at Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. His face turned purple and he struggled to breathe. Terminal patrol staff – Tolga Çiçin, Esmagül Bostancı and Talha Kahyaoğlu – noticed the emergency, approached the family, and performed an immediate Heimlich maneuver. The bead was expelled, the child recovered his breath, and after a brief health check he continued his journey with his family.

Airport director Hanita Ahmad later presented the three employees with thank‑you certificates, highlighting the importance of rapid, professional response to medical incidents in airport operations.