Columbus County Deputy Jose Garcia is being hailed as a hero after saving a possible overdose victim May 10.
The deputy was responding to a call about a man in the roadway on Joe Brown Highway near Tabor City when he found the victim, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
“The male was barely breathing, with purple lips and profusely sweating,” the release said. “Witnesses on scene advised that he had possibly overdosed on street drugs.”
Tabor city Rescue was on a call and requested mutual aid from Fair Bluff, the release said, but Garcia was concerned the EMTs would be too late. He administered a dose of Narcan while waiting on the rescue squad. When the man showed little improvement, Garcia gave himn another dose. The man then regained consciousness and began breathing normally, the release said.
“Deputy Garcia gave this male a second opportunity at life,” sheriff Jody Greene said in the press release. “He likely would not have survived without Deputy Garcia’s assistance. It is easy to judge individuals for their lifestyle choices. Instead, let’s wrap this man in prayers by praying for him.
“To Deputy Garcia, he was just doing his job. To us, he is a hero,” the release said.
