NE Ohio mail carrier is 'National Hero of the Year'

Man performed CPR on unconscious person

Letter carrier Keith McVey, seen here in July 2010, is a 30-year veteran of the United States Postal Service.

WASHINGTON — An Ohio letter carrier who has helped save the lives of three people over a period of two decades was honored Thursday for his latest heroics.

The National Association of Letter Carriers gave Keith McVey, a 30-year post office veteran from Barberton near Akron, its 2011 National Hero of the Year award for his third life-saving act.

“It certainly was a super honor to be given the award as the national hero of the year,” McVey, 55, said by phone after an awards luncheon at a Capitol Hill hotel. “It’s been a great week, just awesome.”

Last year, while delivering mail, he performed CPR on an unconscious man on the side of the road in Akron, earning him the award.

He told The Associated Press then that, after three life-saving opportunities, he thinks “a little divine intervention” may be at work.

Three years ago, he pulled a drowning girl from a lake.

Nearly 20 years ago, a teenager tried to take his life by jumping off a bridge on a snowy day. McVey, unable to stop him from jumping, covered the teen with blankets and helped keep him alive until an ambulance arrived.