It's a touching story of courage...and fate.
Lemor Abrams shows why a Clovis garbage collector is being called a hero.
Three-year old Bryten is a happy little girl with a big personality...hugging her friend Mr. James Bennett...the man who picks up the trash at her house every Tuesday.
She was all smiles Monday because she got to celebrate what her garbage man did for her mom on the right Tuesday, at the right time.
Bryten and her mom Katie were on their way outside to say hi to Mr. Bennett, when mom began choking on her breakfast.
"I ran outside to Mr. Bennett and I signaled to him...I bent over and so he jumped out of his truck right away," said Katie.
In his thirteen years on the job, Mr. Bennett has never had such a close call.
"You never think that when you're out dumping trash that you're going to have to administer the heimlich," he said.
But Katie didn't want to stop at thank you. She asked the Clovis City Council to kick into action this time, and recognize their senior sanitation operator.
After a standing ovation, the council honored Bennett with a plaque for saving a life.
"It's something anyone would have done but thank you guys," said Bennett.
Bennett doesn't consider himself a hero. But doesn't mind that mom and Bryten do.
Lemor Abrams shows why a Clovis garbage collector is being called a hero.
Three-year old Bryten is a happy little girl with a big personality...hugging her friend Mr. James Bennett...the man who picks up the trash at her house every Tuesday.
She was all smiles Monday because she got to celebrate what her garbage man did for her mom on the right Tuesday, at the right time.
Bryten and her mom Katie were on their way outside to say hi to Mr. Bennett, when mom began choking on her breakfast.
"I ran outside to Mr. Bennett and I signaled to him...I bent over and so he jumped out of his truck right away," said Katie.
In his thirteen years on the job, Mr. Bennett has never had such a close call.
"You never think that when you're out dumping trash that you're going to have to administer the heimlich," he said.
But Katie didn't want to stop at thank you. She asked the Clovis City Council to kick into action this time, and recognize their senior sanitation operator.
After a standing ovation, the council honored Bennett with a plaque for saving a life.
"It's something anyone would have done but thank you guys," said Bennett.
Bennett doesn't consider himself a hero. But doesn't mind that mom and Bryten do.