Construction worker saves stranger's life on the work site

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Two construction workers on a Milwaukee bridge had met just briefly for the first time before one ended up saving the other's life on Thursday, September 26th. Mike Peters collapsed at the job site and could have died, had it not been for the quick actions of a worker from another company.

The incident took place near Highway 145 and Mill Road. After introducing himself to Peters, Scott Kraus said the man suddenly collapsed.

"One minute I was talking to him, the next he was lying in the middle of the road," said Kraus.

Kraus called 911 but knew there was no time to wait for paramedics to arrive.

"He started turning colors and you could tell he wasn't breathing anymore, and I started doing CPR on him," Kraus recalled.

In order to keep his airway open, Kraus held Peters' head back while waiting for first responders. He didn't know if the other worker he had just met lived or died.

Peters had emergency open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve and lived. He plans to go home to Quincy, Illinois on Saturday to recover before returning to work.

"I just appreciate him," said Peters. "A lot of people know what to do but won't do it or are scared to do it. I'm just glad he went for it."

Peters wanted to publicly thank Kraus for his quick thinking and actions.

"First I have to give him a big hug and thank him for not kissing me," said Peters. "I can't explain how I feel. It just makes you appreciate everything, the obvious stuff, little stuff.

The Peters family plans to track down Kraus in the near future to thank him in person.