A WPXI news photographer helped save a man’s life after he found the man passed out from a heroin overdose.
Dave Clark was set up for a live shot when he noticed a guy slumped over the wheel of his Jeep, not breathing.
“I look back, his head’s back. He’s purple,” Clark told the Pittsburgh NBC station. “I tried shaking him, yelling, ‘Hey, dude.’”
“I’m thinking, ‘OK, if we can just keep a pulse going till the paramedics get here, we’ll be cool.’ But his pulse got weaker and weaker,” Clark said.
Washington Police Chief Chris Lupino told Channel 11 News that when officers arrived, they took over compressions. He said the man was eventually revived after paramedics realized the man had overdosed on heroin and administered a dose of Narcan.
“Seconds later, they gave him Narcan and his eyes were bright blue and wide open,” Clark said.
An officer at the scene said if it weren’t for Clark beginning CPR prior to their arrival, the man likely would have died.
“Your cameraman originally brought his pulse back,” Washington Police Officer Matt Karlowsky said. “He probably would’ve died if your crew wasn’t there.”