By Elizabeth Jia
WUSA-TV
OXON HILL, Md. — A healthy Chris Larsen hugs Kathleen Murphy, a paramedic firefighter who helped save his life. On Sept. 15, 2009, the truck that Larsen was working under fell on top of him in a freak accident.
“I remember looking at him, and you can see tire marks going up on his stomach. You can see where the car had rolled him over,” says Murphy.
Murphy and another paramedic were at Larsen’s side during the ambulance ride in Oxon Hill, Md. Doctors say Murphy’s initial care directly helped save Larsen’s life. Murphy took home an EMS award for her efforts, May 17, 2010.
“She took a big part in trying to save my life and she succeeded, " says the 21-year-old Larsen.
“I would have done it even if it wasn’t my job,” says Murphy.
Larsen does not remember much of the accident. But his mom says he underwent 19 surgeries and overcame the first stages of kidney failure.
“She’s given me a second chance with my son, so I thank her immensely for that,” says mother Cynthia Mathieu.
The accident also gave Larsen a chance to turn his life around. Before the incident, mom says he was living a reckless life.
Now, Larsen says he is enrolling in college courses. He plans to also enlist in the Marines.
Republished with permission from WUSA-TV.