Helping others in their time of need: Countryside employee Michael Hartigan took that phrase to heart when he helped save fellow city employee Sean Ligeikis’ life last month.

Hartigan, who has worked for a year in the water plant operations department, was honored at Wednesday’s  City Council meeting for applying a tourniquet to Ligeikis’ leg after it was pinned between two city vehicles July 6.

Countryside Mayor Robert Conrad awarded an inscribed brass clock to Hartigan at the meeting for his heroic actions.

“I’m very proud of his actions,” Conrad said. “You always hear of people that in time of need would rise to the occasion, and Mike certainly went above and beyond for a colleague. It was unselfish ... and he probably played a big part of saving his life. I’m glad that our staff stepped up like that. He’s a great addition to the city and a great guy.”

Hartigan said he was just doing what anyone else would have done.

“I appreciate it, but it’s something that’s not necessary,” he said. “I appreciate that they care. I don’t think that there would be anyone that wouldn’t have done the same thing.”

Hartigan said a crew from the city’s Public Works Department, of which Ligeikis is an employee, were taking down flags from streetlights from the Fourth of July celebration with a bucket lift truck when the accident occurred. He said Ligeikis was standing between two city trucks when another car crashed into the second truck, pinning Ligeikis’ leg between the vehicles.

Hartigan said he happened to be driving by when the accident occurred and tried to help his fellow employee.

“I happened to be on the scene just seconds after it happened,” Hartigan said. “(They) pulled the vehicles apart and I whipped my vehicle around and jumped out and called 911. I just tried to help him. I put a tourniquet on, tried to keep him calm and keep him from going into shock.”

Hartigan said he doesn’t know Ligeikis very well, but that didn’t stop him from helping him as much as he could.

“I appreciate being recognized, but it’s a part of being who you are,” Hartigan said. “I was just out doing another job and driving by when it just happened to be taking place.”

Correspondent Viki Gonia contributed to this story.