MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. --

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“I’m very lucky these guys were there.” –Ken Morrison

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Walking and talking are a struggle for Ken Morrison. After weeks of grueling physical therapy at Carolinas Rehabilitation Center-Mount Holly, he is making a lot of progress and will finally be able to go back home on Thursday.

Jan. 31, Morrison had a heart attack and collapsed at work. His heart stopped, his lungs stopped breathing. The loss of oxygen to his brain caused memory lapse, diminished strength, balance, problems with speech and concentration.

Morrison considers himself lucky.

As an EMT, Morrison knows how critical immediate care in this situation. As a matter of fact, he teaches life saving skills to teenagers on the Lincoln County Junior Rescue Squad. These same teenagers happened to be around when Morrison collapsed.

“I can’t help but think what would’ve happened if we hadn’t been there,” said Derreck Sherrill. Sherrill is one of the young men that saved Morrison’s life.

“He’s the one that taught us everything we know,” said Ethan Parker, another member of the squad that saved Morrison. “When we’d train we’d do scenario. He would give us a patient and we’d have to fix what was wrong with them. It was completely surreal using the training on who taught us.”

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As the squad was leaving the rescue building where they sometimes hang out, they decided to say goodbye to Morrison before they left.

They found him collapsed, first with a very fast pulse, then with no pulse at all. He wasn’t breathing.

The teens training kicked in. They started CPR, shocked his heart three times, bringing Morrison back from the edge until more help arrived.

It was an act that was surreal to the students but wonderful for Morrison’s wife, Lisa.

“They are welcome in my home any time they want to come over,” she said. The shy woman fought back tears as she talked about having her husband thanks to his training and the teens that put it into action.

Morrison’s doctor said without the efforts of the rescue squad Morrison wouldn’t have made it.

“If your heart doesn’t beat your brain doesn’t get oxygen. If your brain doesn’t get oxygen you don’t live very long,” Dr. Matt Shall said succinctly.

So, all the hours on the treadmill to build up his strength and all the time spent sharpening his mind are not a burden but a blessing to Morrison.

“I’m very lucky these guys were there and checked on me. I mean, they could have just walked out the door and left for the evening. They’d have found me the next morning,” Morrison said.

He said he’s not only grateful to his junior squad for saving him, he’s also proud he gave them the skills to do it. Skills he wishes more people had.

“That’s why I want to do this interview. More people need to be trained in CPR,” said Morrison.

You’ll find a CPR resource along with extended interviews with Morrison, his wife and two of the young men who saved his life in the sidebar of this article.