Hamilton Man Honored as 'Mission into Action" Hero [VIDEO]

Paul Willis of Hamilton played a key role in saving another basketball player's life last year in Manchester-by-the-Sea and he was honored this week for his action by the local chapter of the American Red Cross. He was awarded the "Mission into Action" award.

Willis was named a Community Hero and accepted the award during a breakfast ceremony on Thursday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore Hotel in Danvers (see attached video). Also accepting the honor for the her actions that same say was Jill Levine, the athletic trainer at Manchester-Essex Regional High School.

It started when Levine saw a player, Steve Lindland, shows signs of distress while playing a game of basketball on Sept. 10, 2012 at the Manchester-Essex high school gym.

She knew he was in serious trouble, the American Red Cross said in a biographical write-up for the award ceremony.

"Seeing her rush to the stricken player's side, another spectator, Paul Willis of Hamilton, hurried to assist her on the court in doing what they could to help," the biography said. "While Paul sought to comfort the victim, Jill began to administer CPR on her own and prepared to use a portable defibrillator if necessary."

The "fast and knowledgeable response" meant that Lindland, who was suffering cardiac arrest, "was safely escorted to the hospital and enjoyed a good recovery," the Red Cross said.

“Without their quick actions and willingness to assist in this dramatic emergency," Lt Tim Crosbie of the Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department told the Red Cross, "the victim would surely not fared as well as he has."