Man Heroically Saves Friend’s Life at Local Walmart
A Regular Day Turns Extraordinary for Local Kentuckian Hero
The town of Rockcastle County, Kentucky, is celebrating one of its own today in a remarkable and uplifting story about friendship, quick thinking, and selflessness. Yesterday, the ordinary got extraordinary when local resident, Paul Morgan, saved a long-time friend’s life utilizing an almost forgotten skill he acquired several decades ago during his military service.
From Casual Conversation to Life-Threatening Incident
Morgan, a father, granddad, and former mechanic, was in the parking lot of a local Walmart, having a chat with his long-time friend, Larry. Suddenly, things took a drastic tur:
“We were talking and going on, he turned and looked at me, his eyes lit up. He just fell like a tree and hit that concrete. I thought he was dead. He started turning blue, and I thought ‘Lord, don’t let him die,” Morgan recounted of the terrifying ordeal.
The Quick-Thinking Lifesaver Leaps into Action
In the face of such shocking incident, Morgan promptly sprang into action. Drawing from CPR training he’d received over six decades ago in the military, Morgan gave his friend mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions, fighting desperately to keep him alive until professional help could arrive.
“You don’t forget it. It’s just like learning to drive or ride a bicycle,” Morgan said, reflecting on his long-ago CPR training. Just a few fraught minutes later, Larry started breathing again, showing signs of life just as the ambulance arrived.
Overcoming the Brush with Death
With Larry revived and in professional hands, relief washed over the crowd that had gathered to watch. As he was being loaded into the ambulance, Larry mustered the strength to look at Morgan and say, “I’ll see ya, Paul!” At that moment, Morgan knew his friend was going to be alright.
A Hero of Humble Deeds
When reflecting on the event, Morgan’s grandson, Eric Bullock, expressed his utmost respect and admiration for his grandfather’s heroic act.
“My mom texted me and she said ‘Did you hear your granddad gave someone CPR at a Walmart today?’ I called him and asked him about it and he told me the story. I thought ‘This is amazing!’ Papaw always thinks of others before himself. He just wants to do what he can for other people,” shared Bullock.
Reflections on the Value of Life
Morgan was emotional when reflecting on the life he had saved. “Life’s so uncertain. And I think the most important thing is to be ready to go. I would do it again, for anybody,” Morgan proudly stated.
This story serves as a powerful reminder of the unpredictability of life and the strength of human spirit, friendship, and the value of knowing vital life-saving skills like CPR.
