Jul 3, 2015 2 min read

Washington Transit driver Michael Waldygo doesn’t want to think about the alternative.

On Thursday, while preparing to drive into Pittsburgh, Waldygo was alerted a man at the back of the bus was unresponsive by a passenger.

Waldygo sprang into action, stopping the bus at the Beau Street park-and-ride, where he performed CPR for roughly eight minutes until paramedics arrived.

“It was a little bit scary,” the Washington resident said of the experience. “He could have been gone. I don’t want to think about that.”

Waldygo said he took a CPR class years ago, but never expected to use the training.

“It was always at the back of the mind,” he said. “He had no pulse at first, but after about six minutes (of chest compressions), I felt a faint pulse.”

The incident happened about 4 p.m. Waldygo, who has been with the transit company for four years, said he wasn’t familiar with the man and has no idea about his condition now.

“He was breathing when the paramedics took him,” he said.

Charles Parham, operations and safety manager for MV Transportation and Waldygo’s supervisor, said it is uncommon for someone to suffer a medical emergency during a ride. Parham said drivers are not required to be CPR-certified.

“Mike exemplifies all the qualities we look for in a driver,” Parham said. “He is always willing to step up and do what’s needed.”

Parham touted Waldygo as a hero, but Waldygo said he was just doing something that had to be done.

“People every day can be saved,” he said. “I know I did the right thing. I’m not sure if I saved his life. I just hope he’s doing well and has no permanent damage.”