He slipped back out of sight, but as he disappeared I could see him clutching for a grip on the wall with one hand, and with the other clutching at his throat.

The stick fell clattering to the ground.
I could not see him any more, though I could hear him choking and strangling and coughing.

The audience kept a death-like silence.

I crouched on the lip of the entrance and waited.

The strangling and coughing died down, and I could hear him now and again clearing his throat.