Send this page to someone via email

It was a meeting to give a hug and a truly heartfelt thank-you.

Twenty-three-year-old Josh Drake stopped by a Delta home to meet the family of a man he helped save.

Celebrate a birthday then save a life — that was the unexpected situation that unfolded last Monday night for brothers Justin and Josh Drake.

The brothers were driving along Highway 10 in Surrey after a birthday dinner for Justin when they spotted a woman waving on the side of the road next to a truck. The driver of the truck was having a heart attack.

The brothers jumped into action along with an off-duty RCMP officer heading to work.

“We took his pulse and it was basically not there so CPR was the next step,” Josh said.

Story continues below advertisement

Josh and the officer pulled 66-year-old Jerzy Brzozowski out of his vehicle and started CPR.

Soon more people arrived bringing defibrillators.

“It really highlights the importance of having this training as you never know when you are going to need it,” Surrey RCMP Sgt. Alanna Dunlop said.

Brzozowski was rushed to hospital where he is recovering.

When things calmed down an officer spotted the Superman T-shirt Justin was wearing and also noticed it was his birthday.

“I guess that was a pretty good gift to have that sort of experience,” the birthday boy said.

Brzozowski plans to personally thank everyone who helped save his life.

His family feels everyone who stopped to help were super heroes.

“It’s given not only my husband but our whole family — our two daughters, our grandchildren — really another chance at life,” wife Kirsten Brzozowski said.