PEABODY - A quick-acting substitute teacher helped save cosmetology teacher Cheryl English from choking yesterday at lunch.

English and June Kessel, a retired special education teacher, had gone to lunch at the vocational high school restaurant, The Melting Pot.

"We were just sitting there having lunch," English said.

But the mealtime routine was interrupted when the cosmetology teacher began to choke on a piece of steak. English said that as soon as she swallowed, she knew her airway was blocked. She stood up and signaled she was choking.

Despite a feeling of panic, English said she was prepared to give herself the Heimlich maneuver, in which she would press her abdomen over the back of a chair.

But Kessel came to her rescue.

"So I jumped up and I pushed," said Kessel, who has used the lifesaving maneuver twice before to help students.

English said Kessel saved her. She said she was a little dizzy immediately afterward the incident but felt fine.

Kessel said the gravity of the moment didn't strike her until the whole scene settled. Her hands started shaking nervously, she said.

"I'm glad I was there," Kessel said.