MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) – June 1, 2023 was a life-changing day for Stephen Funk of Paradise.

“It was kind of in the middle of the night. My wife said I was up pacing, walking around,” Funk said. “I had the worse indigestion I ever had.”

It was certainly more than indigestion. Funk decided to drive himself to the hospital to get checked out by a physician.

On his way, he suffered a heart attack. Funk crashed his car along Route 30 by the Route 30/283 split by the Belmont shopping complex in Lancaster.

“I was behind him the whole time,” Keith Still, a firefighter and paramedic for Manheim Township said.

Still was headed to pick up his dog from a dog sitter. He left his shift about 30 minutes earlier which he rarely does. It ended up being a life-saving ride home.

“I realized he was in a much dire circumstance and he was actually in cardiac arrest,” Still said. “I pulled him out of the car right then and there and started CPR.”

Still restored Funk’s pulse. Other first responders arrived on scene moments later to aid Still in saving Funk.

Eight people were honored with awards on Tuesday from the American Red Cross.

“Any time that we can recognize individuals who selflessly step in sometimes in harm’s way, but step in to save someone’s life or sustain someone’s life, any time we can recognize that at the Red Cross and put a spotlight on that, that’s really important for us,” Laura Burke, the executive director for Central Pennsylvania’s Red Cross, said.

Certificates of Extraordinary Personal Action were given out. They aren’t common. The Red Cross has handed out only 2,800 worldwide since 2018.

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“Watching Steve interact with his family, he has two small children. Like that’s an incredible experience and I do appreciate the award,” Still said. “This award is awesome, but that genuinely is like the biggest award seeing him interact with his wife and kids.”

Funk and his family have become great friends with Still.

“I owe my life to him basically,” Funk said. “I would drop anything for him, do anything for him whenever he asks.”

“We’re going to make that as like an anniversary now and something that we can celebrate together with his family and his friends as well,” Still said. “His friends are actually a part of the police department as well so we’ve already kind of netted more friends through this experience.”

Funk views it all as a fresh start.

“I definitely feel like I have a second chance,” Funk said.

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