Of course we value the human being's life. It is just the absurdity of the whole thing that makes people poke fun. Of all the dumb things friends of mine have done (especially in college) when drinking, I am glad none of them died in this pointless a manner.

I do not know how well-spread world-wide teaching of the Heimlich maneuver is, nor if it is well-known in Managua. Not everyone gets the education we do.

We are sure the people who were with him feel terrible, and did not realize what was happening. They will probably always feel guilty for not stopping him, or helping him. They probably though he was kidding around, and just pretending. One problem with choking to death is you cannot say "Help me, I'm choking!" If you could, that would mean you had enough air able to pass in and out of your lungs, and are probably okay.