A mail carrier is being hailed as a hero for saving a California-area man.
Rural carrier Olivia Allee was awarded with a Postmaster General Hero award from California Postmaster Krystal Drone on Feb. 21, for her quick work attending to the safety of a local customer.
According to a summery of events, while delivering mail, Allee found a note from the customer offering a baked pie for her. Walking toward the home of the individual she found the customer fell on the ground.
Allee acted fast, calling 911 for the customer while she covered him with a blanket and waited for help.
In a letter from the customer addressed to Allee following the incident, the customer wrote, "You probably saved my life. It was getting dark when you found me lying in the driveway near dark and temps dropping like a rock."
The letter noted the USPS should be "proud to have an employee like Olivia," saving him from minus-20-degree weather.
"I was just glad I was there to help. I was in the right place at the right time and I'm thankful he's doing OK," Allee said in a statement sent to the Democrat. "I really enjoy my job and it gives me the opportunity to get to know our customers and when I saw him on the ground, I wanted to make sure I could help.
"After calling 911, I waited and chatted with him until help arrived. He was very kind and I appreciate all the kind words from folks about this. It's an honor to be recognized by my teammates and the Postmaster General, too."
When bestowing the award to Allee, Drone highlighted her skills with people. She said Allee is an outstanding employee as she always looks out for others.
"She's very dependable and we're fortunate to have her," Drone said in the statement. "It doesn't surprise me one bit, that she was quick to respond to the aid of others. We have a great team here at the California Post Office and I know each of them would have done the same thing. But she potentially saved his life and that's amazing. I couldn't be happier."
U.S. Postal Service Strategic Communications Specialist Mark Inglett commended Allee for her actions as well, stating she exemplified the model the organization has for its mail carriers.
"The United States Postal Service is woven into the fabric of the communities. We're proud to deliver for America and often times, our Letter Carriers will happen upon circumstances such as this.
We're so proud of Olivia and her swift actions to provide a blanket and contact 911, as she waited with him, to make sure he was OK. As a result, Olivia received the Postmaster General's Hero Award. One of the highest honors a postal employee can receive."