ELLEN BARKIN - BARKIN HAS NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

Actress ELLEN BARKIN nearly choked to death in Los Angeles on Saturday night (04MAR06) before being given the Heimlich manoeuvre by a top Hollywood agent. The SEA OF LOVE star was in town for the Oscars and dining at the posh Sunset Tower Hotel's Tower Bar when she suddenly began choking. Barkin jumped up from the table and screamed, "I'm going to die!" before falling silent - a sign she could no longer breathe, according to PageSix.com. A patron at the restaurant says, "At first I thought it was some sort of joke until she started shaking with spasms and waving her arms in the air. "It was really terrifying. The whole restaurant went dead silent." High-powered Hollywood agent KEVIN HUVANE, who represents BRAD PITT, JENNIFER ANISTON and MERYL STREEP came to Barkin's rescue and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre. The witness adds, "He saved her life." The actress drank some water and eventually recovered enough to continue her meal.