Natalie's Everyday Heroes: State Fair worker uses his police training to save a life

 

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- This week's everyday hero takes 11 days off from his regular job to work at the Wisconsin State Fair. The other 354 days of the year, R.J. Lurquin works in law enforcement. And he didn't hesitate to jump into action during an emergency when duty called during State Fair.

"Can I get you guys anything?" Lurquin asked guests at Saz's at State Fair Park. 

Lurquin is a natural behind the bar.

"This is my fourth year working at State Fair," he said.  "I tend bar. We serve food. So, I just talk with people. Have a good time. I really enjoy it."

Watching him work at Saz's, you can see he's happy to be there.

"A lot of people will mix. Go half and half," he said, taking an order. "It's a family atmosphere. It's really nice."

Most days are like that. Crowds listening to the band and having a good time, but on the first Friday night of the fair, a woman collapsed to the ground.

"The band was on break, so it was a little quieter and I heard a number of people yelling, 'call 911,'" Lurquin remembered. "She was in distress, and she needed help and that's what I do."

You see, the rest of the year, Lurquin is a sergeant with the Dane County Sheriff's Office.

"I've been a police officer, in law enforcement a long time. And I knew things weren't good after initially seeing her, and my training just kind of kicked in and I took it from there," he said.

Lurquin said initially, she didn't have a pulse. He brought it back.

"And then she kind of went red line again. There was no pulse again. So, I just continued CPR until paramedics got here," he said.

He said by the time they did, she was breathing again.

"Appreciate it," Lurquin said, checking out two guests at the bar. 

Lurquin is happy to help. Especially in a place that's always meant happiness to him.

"In my job, it's just nice to see people together, having a good time, kind of enjoying everything Wisconsin has," he said.

It's unclear what exactly the medical emergency was, but we did check with State Fair, and the woman Sgt. Lurquin helped did make a full recovery.

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].