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Worried Costco manager called coworker when he missed his scheduled shift—it ended up saving the worker's life

When an employee did not show up for his early morning shift, his manager knew something wasn't right.
PUBLISHED JAN 24, 2025
Costco worker giving an interview about saving colleague's life. (Cover Image Source: YouTube | WTKR News 3)
Costco worker giving an interview about saving colleague's life. (Cover Image Source: YouTube | WTKR News 3)

Paying attention to small details in our day-to-day lives can allow us to help individuals in crises. Thanks to a man's acute observation and quick response, his colleague's life was saved. Jesse Orsborn, the manager of a Costco store in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, was looking forward to the arrival of an employee named Larry Meeks for his 5 a.m. shift, according to ABC 7. However, when Meeks did not turn up at his workplace on time, Orsborn knew something was wrong. 

An old man in suit calling on phone and looking concerned (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Andrea Piacquadio)
An old man in suit calling on phone and looking concerned (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Andrea Piacquadio)

Orsborn gradually grew concerned about the employee and decided to give him a call to check up on him. "With the early shift, there are times when we all oversleep. So, usually, we'll give them a phone call — 'You up? You coming in?' That type of thing. That's why the initial contact was made but then it turned into something a lot more," Orsborn told ABC affiliate WTKR News 3 in 2024. Strangely enough, Meeks answered his boss' phone, but the words he spoke made no sense to Orsborn.

He couldn't understand why Meeks was speaking like that before hanging up. Orsborn knew in the back of his mind that something didn't add up right and he tried to make sense of what was going on with his employee. Orsborn dialed him multiple times and all Meeks could do was mumble incoherently or groan at his boss' queries. Eventually, Orsborn figured out that Meeks might be in the middle of a medical crisis and needed help urgently.

A emergency responder attending a man lying down with a hand on his chest (Representative Image Source: Pexels | RDNE Stock project)
A emergency responder attending a man lying down with a hand on his chest (Representative Image Source: Pexels | RDNE Stock project)

Orsborn was right about Meeks' health because the Costco employee was having a stroke when he picked up Orsborn's phone. Some co-workers also dialed Meeks' number and kept talking to him until the emergency service arrived and Meeks was admitted to the hospital. “That alarmed us. We started calling several times, eventually getting back in touch with him again. More mumbling and groaning. It was obvious he was having some sort of medical emergency," Dave Mackin, the assistant general manager of the store, told the outlet. Meeks was released from the hospital but he had a long road to recovery ahead of him.



 

In a similar story, a 4-year-old showed how taking prompt actions saves lives — she had learned about it in her school. 4-year-old Mya Lang was taught at school when and how to call 999 in case of emergencies. Lang used that knowledge to dial for help when her mom Rachel collapsed at their home due to her Functional Neurological Disorder. While Lang's dad was away at work, the little girl quickly dialed 999 and tried to explain her mother's crisis in the best way possible to dispatcher Paul Dawes. 

Little girl using phone to call. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Cottonbro studio)
Little girl using the phone to call. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Cottonbro studio)

As the officer guided her, the girl revealed that her mum was “on the floor, sleeping.” She added that her mum had fallen and could barely speak. The officer calmly assured Mya that help would be on the way and told her to answer the door when medical aid arrived. The officer stayed on call with the 4-year-old, who also gave them the address to her home so they could arrive in time to save the mum's life. She was lauded for her quick thinking. 

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