Advertisement Publix manager saves employee’s life Manager to be presented with Citizen Hero Award Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Thomas Hughes has a special place in his heart for Brittany Carlo."If it weren't for Brittany, I wouldn't be here right now," said Thomas. On Aug. 5, Thomas, an employee at Publix on St. James Drive in Port St. Lucie went cardiac arrest while stocking shelves in the store's dairy department. Thomas does not remember anything from that day but describes what we saw when they play back the store's surveillance camera. "I just started to go down and I grabbed my cart and it kind of eased me to the ground. So I wasn't injured when I fell," said Thomas."One of my associates in the grocery department she came running up the front end and busted through the computer room saying, 'I need you now. I need you. Thomas, he's fallen. He's unconscious," said Carlo, who just underwent CPR training, jumped into action. "I see him laying on the floor and my other manager he's checking him. Making sure he's ...and I just immediately began CPR. I didn't even know what I was doing."That lifesaving measure gave Thomas more time. Since the health scare, he has been forced to retire from Publix after 10 years on the job. Thomas recalls the date and time of his last shift, "August 5, 2007. 9:30am."Thomas told WPBF 25 News he misses going to work, but looking forward to spending time with his wife, kids, and grandkids. He is also looking forward to being off to catch his New England Patriots play on Sunday's. "I get to watch every game when they play. I'm not working when they playing anymore," said Thomas. His heart is a little beat up now, but Thomas is on a waiting list to get a new one.St. Lucie County Fire District plans to recognize Carlo on Oct. 18, for her act of heroism. She will be presented with the Citizen Hero Award.