A Muscle Shoals firefighter is being credited with saving a man’s life after jumping into action during a medical emergency while off duty at a Florence restaurant.
Wesley Sharpston, a driver with the Muscle Shoals Fire Department, later received the department’s lifesaving award for his actions — an honor typically reserved for those who take extraordinary measures, often while off duty — according to a report from The Times Daily.
According to Fire Chief John Hyde, the incident occurred Jan. 27 while Sharpston was dining with his family at Outback Steakhouse in Florence when a nearby man suddenly collapsed.
Sharpston and his brother-in-law quickly assessed the situation and discovered the man had no pulse and was not breathing. Sharpston immediately began performing CPR.
“They did two full rounds of CPR and got a pulse back,” Hyde said. “By the time Florence firefighters and EMS arrived on scene, they had the guy alert and answering questions.”
Hyde noted that Sharpston had no obligation to intervene but did so without hesitation.
“You have to fall into certain criteria to get a lifesaving award,” Hyde said. “Obviously, a life has to be saved, but in the fire department, we usually only give it out if you do something of extreme measures while off duty. [Sharpston] didn’t have a duty to act. He just did.”
Hyde said actions like Sharpston’s reflect a broader culture among first responders who often go beyond what is required, even when they are off the clock.
Muscle Shoals Mayor Billy Hudson said the firefighter’s actions highlight the mindset shared by many first responders.
“Our firefighters and policemen are never off duty,” Hudson said. “If someone has an accident or something, they automatically go into that mode of trying to save a life.”
For Sharpston, what began as a routine night out with family quickly turned into a life-or-death situation — one where his training and willingness to act made all the difference.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
