Rural Carrier Johnnie Gatlin was recently making deliveries in a Junction City, KS, neighborhood when he grew concerned about an older customer whose mail was piling up.
Gatlin heard a faint cry for help coming from inside the residence, at which point he looked through a window and spotted the woman lying on the floor.
The Postal Service employee immediately called 911 and assured the customer that help was on the way.
He was soon joined by a neighbor, who was able to access the residence so they could render aid to the woman, who was pleading for water.
Paramedics arrived momentarily and rushed her to a hospital, where she was treated for a broken hip sustained in a fall.
“If it were not for Johnnie’s astute awareness of his surroundings and customers, she might not have survived another day due to dehydration,” said Junction City Postmaster Charles Lincoln.
The customer is recovering from the incident.