Town employee Randy Martinez went to work Aug. 13 as chief operator at the Holly Springs wastewater treatment plant. He came home a hero, having saved a man’s life while on the job.

Early in the workday at the treatment plant, which is undergoing construction to expand the facility, a contractor working on an electrical line accidentally touched an energized panel and was electrocuted.

A coworker ran into Martinez’s office, and Martinez called 911. While the emergency operator was on the line, another worker entered the office and told Martinez that the victim was not breathing and did not have a heartbeat. Martinez ran to the victim and successfully performed CPR until emergency responders arrived at the plant and took over.

“Without a doubt, he saved that gentleman’s life,” said Fire Chief Cecil Parker.

Parker said Fire Department staff was on the scene at the wastewater treatment plant within a few minutes, and a shock from a defibrillator brought back the victim’s heartbeat.

“Fire and EMS (employees): those are the real heroes,” Martinez said. “They do this every single day. They’re the ones that deserve to have their pictures on the front page every day.”

Martinez had attended a CPR class offered by the town Fire Department to staff. He also had been taking CPR classes for about 20 years.

He said that when he learned that the victim’s breathing and heartbeat had stopped, he responded automatically.

“I didn’t even think about it,” Martinez said. “I just went.”

He said his training kicked in, and that the rescue was physically and emotionally draining and stressful.

“You close your eyes at night, and it comes back on you,” he said.

The victim was released from the hospital after several days with no permanent brain damage and returned home to his wife and daughter, town staff said.

At last week’s Holly Springs Town Council meeting, Martinez received a Life Safety Award from the town. The incident factored into council’s vote later at the same meeting to purchase defibrillators for all town facilities.

“I’m very, very proud of him,” said Amy Moore, Public Utilities director and Martinez’s supervisor. “His training took over, and he did exactly as he was supposed to. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”