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FHP Trooper, Miami Beach Officer Honored For Life Saving Effort

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a Miami Beach police officer who saved a man's life on the highway were honored Tuesday by Miami Fire Rescue.

"I don't consider myself a hero, but it feels great, the recognition, I am honored and humbled about it," said Officer Tino Serrano of Miami Beach Police.

"I really appreciate it. I didn't do what I did for the award, I did it because I was at the right moment," FHP trooper Yudiel Santana said.

They were honored for what they did on February 22.

Around 12:30 p.m. that day, Trooper Santana was sent to check out reports of a single car accident at the North Miami Avenue exit ramp of eastbound I-195. When Santana arrived he found that a 2004 Mercedes had crashed into a guard rail.

The driver, 32-year Kareem Shaker, was not breathing, had no pulse and was having convulsions. Santana knew he had to act quickly.

"I looked at his chest and saw that there was no motion and no air coming out. I raised one of his hands and then I moved his left hand and got him out of the car and then a good Samaritan came around and helped perform CPR."

"A good Samaritan helped me put him on the ground and I started doing chest compressions," Trooper Santana said.

Miami Beach police Officer Tino Serrano also stopped at the scene and assisted Santana.

"We didn't feel comfortable about this," said Santana. "We felt we lost him again so we put him on his back and performed CPR again."

Shaker regained a pulse and began to breathe. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.

"That's the best experience of the whole thing, not just saving a life, but it was a team effort," Trooper Santana said. "When I finished the last compression and Mr. Shaker took his first breath, I looked over and saw the City of Miami fire fighters coming out. I believe Captain Dean said we will take it from here and I said, 'Thank God.'"

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