Assistant Warren County Attorney Leslie Bucklew is alive following a cardiac episode after a young staff member took action to help him Thursday afternoon.

County Attorney Amy Milliken called the young man “a hero.”

When Bucklew collapsed in the office Thursday, office runner Byron Turner performed CPR until medical help arrived to transfer the man to the hospital.

Turner, 20, of Bowling Green, said the incident occurred just as the county attorney’s office was closing for the day. People were wrapping up their work when Bucklew collapsed, and Turner was called in to help.

Turner and another assistant county attorney turned Bucklew over, and Turner started performing CPR, he said. Bucklew was turning a bluish purple because he wasn’t breathing.

It was the first time he had been called on to use his CPR skills in a real-life situation, but Turner said instinct kicked in and he didn’t hesitate.

“It was almost instant,” he said.

Bucklew would occasionally cough, and Turner made sure his airway was clear but continued CPR until Emergency Medical Services arrived.

“I’m just happy that he’s alive,” Turner said.

Bucklew suffered a cardiac episode and remains under medical care, Milliken said.

Turner has worked at the county attorney’s office and said Bucklew was always there to guide him and answer any of his questions.

“The fact that I helped him is great, but I’m more happy that he will be OK,” he said.

Turner said he hopes people will pray for Bucklew and his family.

Turner is a recent Western Kentucky University graduate who plans on attending law school at Northern Kentucky University in the fall. 

In addition to working at the county attorney’s office, Turner also works as an athletic staff assistant with the Bowling Green parks department. The job requires him to be CPR, AED and first aid certified. He first received CPR certification in 2011.

He spoke to the Daily News by phone on Friday after completing a refresher CPR course.

The timing is ironic, he said, but an update on CPR skills is a good idea no matter how often you use them.

Milliken credits Turner with saving her colleague’s life.

She said the staff members in her office learned something from Thursday’s incident. All of them will now be taking a CPR class.

“When something like this happens, it kind of puts life in perspective,” Milliken said.

Though Milliken often thinks of Turner as a kid because of his age, he stepped up to take the actions of a man on Thursday, she said.

“He is somebody who always puts forth the extra effort,” she said.

– Katie Brandenburg covers government for the Bowling Green Daily News. Follow her at twitter.com/BGDNgovtbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.