A woman said she feels “lucky to be alive” after a screw ended up lodged in her throat whilst drinking a Tim Hortons’ iced coffee last month.
Carolyn Wells, 46, was delivered the beverage by her daughter Shawna, 27, who stopped by after a trip to the restaurant in Port Colborne, Ontario.
“We sat down to chat. While drinking the coffee I started choking,” Wells told Black Press Media.
“I thought I was going to die. I thought it was an ice cube.”
Shawna saw her mother in distress and performed the Heimlich maneuver April 23. Following unsuccessful attempts to relieve Wells, the daughter pounded on her back.
The screw the size of her thumbnail flew across the floor, Wells said.
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The next day, she drove to the Tim Hortons’ location that served her daughter and filed an incident report. There, the manager on duty put a $20 gift card in front of her.
“She threw down the card at me like I was nothing,” she said.
Days later, Wells said a manager confirmed with her over the phone that a screw was, in fact, missing from the store’s ice machine.
The owner of that Tim Hortons’ called Wells on May 12 and reportedly offering her an apology as well as free lunch.
“I am still scared to drink iced coffee,” Wells said.
READ ALSO: Petition urging Tim Hortons to remove freshly cracked eggs from breakfast sandwiches launched
The company told Black Press Media what happened was an “isolated incident” that prompted a thorough investigation of the store.
“We were really sorry to hear about this guest’s experience,” reads an emailed statement from the company.
“The restaurant owner and their team apologized after being contacted by the guest.”
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Carolyn Wells, 46, said she choked on a screw in her Tim Horton’s iced coffee on May 23. Her daughter had to perform the Heimlich maneuver on her. (Submitted)
