Brody Ferris and Keralyn Songer were recently presented with keys to the city of New Philadelphia for their efforts to save a co-worker who went into cardiac arrest. (Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter/Gatehouse Media)

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) - The city is honoring three pizza shop employees for coming to the rescue of a co-worker suffering cardiac arrest. 

City council passed resolutions commending Brody Ferris, Keralyn Songer and Nicole Strong for calling 911 and using CPR to save the life of Gil Gaynesbloom when he lost consciousness at Little Caesars in March. Mayor Joel Day also presented them with keys to the city, the first time he’s handed out that honor.

“Because of the heroism they showed. Saving a life is a very important life event and it’s something that should be recognized in this way, so that’s why we gave them keys to the city,” he said.        

Keralyn Songer and Brody Ferris accepted the awards at the meeting, but neither say they felt like heroes.

“I don’t feel I should have got all the awards and all the recognition because I was just helping someone, and that’s what we should all do,” Songer said.

“A fireman in a burning building is heroic, a policeman in a shootout is heroic because that person could hurt others so they’re saving lives, and definitely like soldiers, that’s heroic. But my life wasn’t really in danger so it was really like a courageous and noble thing, so tI call it noble, not necessarily heroic,” Ferris said. 

Ferris says he knew what to do in an emergency because at the time he was training to become a lifeguard. He says he got the job. He says Gaynesbloom is doing well now and has returned to his other occupation – teaching at Kent State.

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