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TORONTO – A California police officer is being honoured for saving a man from an ant attack.

Dan Garza was on patrol June 4 when he came across a vehicle stopped on the side of a highway.

Didrik Johnck was changing a blown-out tire when he asked the officer if he could help provide light using the cruiser’s headlights.

While Johnck was changing the tire, dozens of ants began to bite the 41-year-old’s legs and feet.

“He came back to my patrol car and said, ‘Hey officer, I’m sorry this is taking so long, but there’s ants over here they’re crawling up my leg,’” Garza told CBS.

Johnck suddenly went into medical distress.

“I saw him on the ground reaching out toward my patrol car,” Garza said. “I could see his eyes were glossed over and red, and at that moment I knew something wasn’t right.”

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The officer used his first-aid kit and began to administer oxygen to Johnck, who was choking and gasping for air, until paramedics arrived.

According to CBS, the motorist was bitten by fire ants and Johnck had a rare allergic reaction to the almost 100 bites on his legs and feet.

Johnck made a full recovery.