This is the moment a man suddenly slumps on a restaurant table after choking on food before a cop carries out the Heimlich manoeuvre to help save his life.

The incident was filmed at a petrol station in the municipality of Pariquera-Acu in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo at around 9.50 pm on 26th November.

In the footage, the man is seen holding his head and appearing unwell before slumping on the table.

Nearby diners help the unconscious man before restaurant staff and two cops rush over to assist.

After a worker performs a failed Heimlich manoeuvre on the victim, one of the officers takes over and, using the Heimlich manoeuvre properly, manages to dislodge the obstruction after numerous attempts.

The man regains consciousness and is helped to a seat to recover from his ordeal.

According to the news site G1, the two officers were in the self-service restaurant when they heard cries for help and saw what was happening.

The man reportedly remained seated until he had fully recovered, during which time a doctor on duty checked on him and confirmed that his breathing and heart rate had returned to normal.

Local media said the man was travelling on a bus from Curitiba to the city of Barueri where he is from and continued on his way after the stopover incident at the petrol station restaurant.