KEARNEY, Neb. — A Kearney grocery store was nearly the scene of a tragic moment back in May.

A customer suffered cardiac arrest while shopping. The man, who was in his 50s, lay on the store’s floor, not breathing. That’s when Kearney Police officers and Good Samaritan EMS stepped in. Thanks to their efforts, the man survived and is walking around today.

At Tuesday's city council meeting, Chief Bryan Waugh presented the Kearney Police Lifesaving Award to officers Derek Hosick, CJ Hughes and Dave Humphrey.

“Number one, swift, decisive action by police officers acting on their training, acting on their experience, using their equipment that they’re provided,” Waugh said.

Hosick was the initial first responder on the scene. Bystanders were performing CPR and he promptly took over.

“A little hectic," Hosick said. "Just making sure we’re providing good CPR, first aid and helping those that decided to step in before we were able to get there.”

Hughes and Humphrey arrived shortly after.

“I think I started out doing chest compressions," Humphrey said. "Eventually, we all kind of did a little of everything.”

“A big reason there’s three of us here today is because it does take teamwork," Hughes said. "Unfortunately, it’s not like TV where one person can just run in and make things happen. It takes a lot of teamwork and coordination and luck.”

In total, the officers guess they were on the scene for 10 minutes. Hughes then drove the ambulance to the hospital while paramedics tended to the patient, who soon started to breathe on his own.

The patient later paid the police department a visit.

“He had stopped back in," Hosick said. "I was able to shake his hand and that was the first time I had met him outside of that incident. It was nice to talk to him.”

The police officers stressed that new equipment added to their arsenal in recent years has helped them in these situations. They say specifically that AED’s and breathing bags have provided a big boost.