REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - A letter carrier went beyond the mailbox to help save the life of a customer in Sussex County.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Postal Service honored Rehoboth Beach carrier Allen "Jay" Stevenson with a hero award and a $500 check.
"It's part of our creed as letter carriers to check on our customers," said Stevenson.
A growing pile of unchecked mail was the first clue something was wrong, said Stevenson. The carrier said the customer may let a few pieces linger but not like he saw around Christmas. Another red flag: the front door of the house was slightly open. Stevenson consulted with the postmaster and the customer's relatives and decided it was time to go inside.
"Of course, it was two days after Christmas, I just felt it was time to knock and see what was going on," said Stevenson.
Once inside, Stevenson found Mark Russell, 49, of Rehoboth Beach, on the floor unconscious. The carrier later learned Russell suffered a heart attack and was likely on the ground for several days, though the exact number is unknown. First responders transported the victim to Beebe Medical Center.
"It's part of the job," said Stevenson, who marked 30 years on the job the day before receiving the hero award.
Rehoboth Beach Postmaster Rick DeWitt nominated Stevenson for the award. The family could not attend the award ceremony because of medical appointments, said DeWitt. The postmaster choked up while reading a thank you letter from the family.
"If it were not for Mr. Stevenson, my brother, Mark Russell, would not be here on this earth today," said a letter from Russell's sister.
DeWitt said, to his knowledge, Stevenson is the first employee of the Rehoboth office to receive the hero award. Stevenson, along with colleagues Chip Davis and Larry Phillips, received a separate award for 30 years of service without a traffic crash.
Russell is expected to continue his recovery through rehab services, DeWitt said.
Minutes after the ceremony ended, Stevenson was back on the road delivering mail along his route.
Allen "Jay" Stevenson receives the hero award and a $500 check from the U.S. Postal Service for helping to save the life of a customer. (Photo: WBOC)
