Oakland police helped save a life over the weekend when they performed CPR on a gunshot victim while waiting for paramedics to arrive, authorities said Tuesday.

About 10:10 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to reports of a shooting at 23rd Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. A California Highway Patrol officer on a car stop nearby heard gunfire and notified police, as did citizens.

Officers found the bleeding victim lying face down on the ground while surrounded by several people. Officer Michael Morse and Crime Scene Technician Katharine Potter examined the victim and discovered that he had a weak pulse.

After rolling him over, they immediately began CPR, with Morse holding his airway open as Potter performed chest compressions, authorities said. They continued CPR until paramedics arrived.

The victim was stabilized at Highland Hospital in Oakland. A nurse told police that the victim, who wasn’t identified, survived because of efforts by Morse and Potter, police said.