A Hernando County deputy has been honored for saving the life of a man whose heart had stopped.
Deputy Chris Vascellaro was given a life-saving award Wednesday, and the man whose life he saved - Walter Ward - was on hand to witness it.
Vascellaro was on his way home after work Aug. 26 when he noticed Ward on the ground near Thrasher Avenue. Two people were performing CPR on him.
Vascellaro grabbed his defibrillator and went to work. He got Ward's heart going again.
"I owe him my life," Ward said. "I just very much owe him."
Ward said he feels as though he's been given a special gift. He has been given a second chance at life and more time with his family.
"Every day is a gift," he said.
Ward was taken to a local hospital, where his condition was touch-and-go for a while, but he is now out. The two men said they plan to keep in touch.
"We've already talked about it," Ward said. "We are definitely going to keep in touch."
Ward is also sending out a huge thank you to the other people that stopped that day and helped save his life.