Usually, when you hear of one person coming to the rescue of three people in a week, you think firefighter, police officer or maybe Tim Tebow.
But you can add airport customer service agent to that list.
Meet Mohamed Badenjki, an American Airlines Customer Service Manager at Miami International Airport and this year's 2009 Hero of the Year.
Badenjki received the honor at a surprise ceremony at MIA on Thursday, while he was doing what he does second-best -- helping travelers.
"Mohamed is a true hero for not only using his CPR training with these passengers, but for going far above and beyond the call of duty to show the passengers and their loved ones extreme care and compassion," said Dickie Davis, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Terminal Operations and Customer Service Division Director.
Dr. Mo, as he is now known, gave a different kind of customer service three times in four days in August inside the airport. It was life-saving service.
On Aug. 11, Badenjki helped a woman who was having a heart attack as her two young children watched. Dr. Mo and another American Airlines employee alternated doing CPR on the passenger. After Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel showed up, Badenjki made sure the two small children were taken care of and eventually transported to the hospital.
Local
Four days later, an elderly passenger lost consciousness and Dr. Mo was summoned to the rescue again. He retrieved an emergency kit from a plane and performed CPR until the paramedics arrived.
But no sooner had Dr. Mo caught his breath from attempting to the elderly person's life, another passenger passed out near his gate 40 minutes later. Badenjki rushed into action again, performing CPR and saving the passenger until paramedics took over.
We're out of breath just writing about Dr. Mo's heroics. And to think he learned all his medical skills for a swimming class his son was taking.
