A garbage truck driver is being called a hero after he saved the life of an injured man in Edmonds. Phil Gaston was on a pickup run when he saw Todd Nelson in a garage, bleeding

When Gaston pulled over, he immediately grabbed a roll of paper towels, which was the only thing he had to help Nelson’s bleeding leg.

“I just pressed it on like this,” Gaston said. “This is what saved his life, really.”

Gaston told the man to take off his belt so he could use it to control the bleeding. Gaston told KIRO 7’s Lee Stoll that his only training was a first-aid class 30 years ago.

“That and Boy Scout training is what I remember,” Gaston said. “As soon as I saw him bleeding, I knew I had to stop the bleeding.”

Nelson has recovered since the incident, and told KIRO 7 he was cutting boxes when he sliced the artery in his leg. Three weeks after the incident, Gaston and Nelson were reunited.

Nelson thanked Gaston for helping him out.

“It was something I’m glad I had help with,” said Nelson.