MIAMI (WSVN) – A South Florida police officer was honored after his gym workout turned into a race to save a man’s life.
One day after graduating from the police academy, an officer is being honored for his courage and ingenuity in saving a life.
“For me, it was just a normal workout. I was at the gym,” said Officer Nilson Pacheco.
Even though he had not even completed his training with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Pacheco did not hesitate to save a man’s life even when he was off duty.
“Congratulations,” said an officer, shaking Pacheco’s hand.
“Thank you,” said Pacheco.
Pacheco is awarded the department’s Lifesaving Award by the Miami-Dade Police Department for saving a man who was stabbed at the gym.
“Their exemplary behavior under pressure reflects the best qualities of humanity. They demonstrate exceptional compassion and a willingness to put members of the community first,” an official said.
“I feel extremely honored, that’s all I can really say. I feel honored and humbled,” Pacheco said.
In May, Pacheco was training at the 24-Hour Gym in Miami Gardens when two men got into a fight.
“I turned around and saw a man bleeding heavily from his armpit, but it looked like his bicep. As he was walking out, he collapsed right in front of my vehicle,” Pacheco said.
The man, Paul James, began bleeding profusely from his arm. Pacheco ran to his car to get a tourniquet. An off-duty Broward Sheriff’s deputy gave him a pair of gloves while Pacheco stayed with the victim.
“I asked him, ‘Hey, do you know your name? Do you know where you are? Do you know what year it is?’ Just some basic questions so I could kind of find out so he could keep talking and stay with me,” Pacheco said.
But when he tried to apply the tourniquet, he realized that it would not stop the bleeding since the wound was under the man’s armpit. A nearby nurse gave him some gauze and he bandaged the wound and applied pressure.
By the time Miami-Dade Fire Department arrived, the man had regained consciousness.
“At that moment, I was just thinking about my training,” said Pacheco.
Doctors say James survived his otherwise fatal injury thanks to his quick actions and resourcefulness.
“I know the person whose life you saved would appreciate it too, so thank you,” said Major Yolanda Jacinthe of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
“I didn’t do it to get praise or anything. For me it was just training, it’s the job we signed up for,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco also received another award, the Distinguished Officer of the Month award.
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