During the inaugural Zanesville Half Marathon on Sept. 15 one runner collapsed in the street due to a serious heart attack.

Jim Crowley, the President of Advanced Heating and Cooling, was nearing the finish line on the morning of the half marathon when he suffered a massive heart attack, according to a Facebook post on the company’s Page.

Thankfully, a prominent first responder was nearby. Zanesville Fire Department Interim Chief, Doug Hobson, was the first responder on the scene. He administered medical treatment to Crowley who was later taken to Genesis Hospital by Value Care EMS.

Hobson was recognized at Monday night’s City Council meeting by Public Safety Director Keane Toney.

“I want to thank Mr. Hobson for his alertness to the emergency situation, skills training, love of community, and passion for his fellow citizens enabling him to save this man’s life,” Toney wrote in his acknowledging statement. “Thank you, Interim Fire Chief Hobson. We greatly appreciate you and are proud you are on our team.”

While the public, along with Crowley’s family, are showering Hobson with thanks, he said he’s not the one that should be receiving any acknowledgment.

“The real heroes are at the Zanesville Fire Department everyday, they do this day in and day out, our Zanesville Police force, they’re the ones that do this everyday,” Hobson said. “I hate to take any of the credit for this, I mean this is not what it’s about because this is our job. These guys don’t get what they should get for saving lives everyday, on a daily basis.”

After providing medical attention to Crowley during the half marathon, Hobson was invited to the hospital to be personally thanked by the family members.

According to the Facebook post made on Sept. 20, Crowley had regained full consciousness and returned to his home from Genesis Hospital. The post goes on to thank all responders and hospital staff involved with Crowley’s situation, but specifically Hobson as the situation “would have turned our far worse” had he not been there.

“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” Hobson said. “I was able to provide medical attention to this gentleman and he’s here today to talk about it.”

Hobson also said that Crowley and his wife came to his office earlier Monday for a personal meeting.

“I think we’ll become lifelong friends. We gave each other a big hug and he had that smile, you know, like I’m giving right now,” Hobson said during his remarks to the Zanesville City Council.