An off-duty New Jersey trooper is being credited with saving the life of a man who he saw choking at a Rockaway restaurant.

State police said Trooper Dennis Palaia was eating at a Buffalo Wild Wings Sunday when he noticed a man sitting near his table who was having trouble breathing.

"I turned around and realized the guy behind me was completely red in the face, holding his hands up like he was choking, Palaia said.

Palaia jumped into action, giving the man four quick thrusts to his abdomen, which cleared the man’s airway.

"On the fifth one, I knew it was out.  I could feel him starting to breathe again,” said Palaia.

State police posted surveillance video of the trooper’s lifesaving actions on their Facebook page.

Palaia said it was the first time he has used the Heimlich maneuver, but he said his training immediately kicked in. 

“I really thought he was going to go down, and I was nervous. Thinking about it afterward, you start running through, ‘If you didn't get it out, what would you do then?’ and all those kinds of scenarios.  I would do it again in a heartbeat of course,” he said.

Other than some sore ribs and throat, the man was OK, police said.

"I can remember his son, kind of yelling at him after, ‘Stop eating wings.  This can't happen again,” Palaia said.

Palaia said the incident is a great reminder for everyone to get first aid training. Troopers get trained on CPR every other year.

Go HERE to watch footage from the news conference with Palaia.