The staff at Naval Safety Center know a thing or two about saving lives. It's in their mission statement.

It should come as little surprise then that Jan. 24, on a flight from Bahrain to Kuwait, a Naval Safety Center chief petty officer leaped in to action to save the life of a fellow passenger in distress.

Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Charles Hatcher was looking forward to returning home after some training at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. There was a two-hour delay, and as the flight was finally taxiing to the runway, flight attendants were waking passengers who had chosen to sleep away the delay.

"As the flight attendant was waking passengers up, she stumbled across a passenger who was unresponsive," said Hatcher as he recounted the events. "She rushed to the (aircraft's internal) phone and alerted the pilot and other flight attendants that the passenger was not responding to her efforts."

Hatcher's plane taxied back to the terminal for a doctor. He suggested that they stretch the passenger out and elevate his feet.

"I saw they were having trouble getting the passenger to respond and my training kicked in," Hatcher said. "I offered to help lift the gentleman and place him in a more spacious area where there was enough room to elevate his feet. Their response was: 'Please!' 'Help!'"

Hatcher moved the passenger where he could be given medical attention. A doctor was able to revive the passenger. It was later discovered the passenger had not taken his blood pressure medication and might have died had the plane taken off.

Hatcher was grateful that he was able to help a fellow passenger with training he'd learned over the years.

"My training just kicked in and it was all instinct," said Hatcher. "We all need to know what to do if we find ourselves in a situation like this. I'm relieved no one died that day."

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