Laura Edson went shopping for groceries last Oct. 13 and in the frozen-food aisle of Fred Meyer, saved a man’s life.

Edson, a registered nurse, was honored Monday night by the Renton City Council and Renton’s Fire and Emergency Services with a plaque presented by Fire Chief Mark Peterson.

Standing with Edson were the fire crews from Station 13 who responded to the call, firefighters Donovan Eckhardt and Dave Arends and Lt. Fred Heistuman.

Peterson told the story of Edson’s quick action.

Edson rounded a corner of the frozen-food aisle and came upon a 59-year-old man on the floor. He was blue; another person was standing helplessly over him.

She immediately began chest compressions. The Fire Department’s Station 13 is just across the street. Medics arrived quickly, just after 4 p.m.

She told officials she was “shocked to learn the patient had a blood pressure, heartbeat and was in sinus rhythm prior to being taken to the hospital.”

Peterson told the council and the audience that Edson made a difference in someone’s life that day.

EMTS and firefighters on the scene said Edson’s quick actions gave the patient “a very good chance of survival” after suffering a heart attack.

The man, whose name wasn’t released, survived and is recovering.

While shopping a few weeks after the incident, Edson ran into the man who had stood by helplessly. He has since taken CPR training so he’s prepared if faced again with a similar situation.