TITUSVILLE, Fla. – A Titusville priest is credited with saving the life of another clergy member caught in the waves off Playalinda Beach.
The incident happened about 1 p.m. Wednesday as 52-year-old Krzysztof Bugno, a priest at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Titusville, and the unidentified priest were at the beach, located along the Canaveral National Seashore.
The near-drowning unfolded near pier 1 of the popular beach. Witnesses said the priest was in the water when he appeared in distress.
"I realize he's not responding… He's just kind of not, so I run and move him to the shore, and actually he was already kind of changing color," Bugno said.
Bugno said he attempted CPR as rescue crews from Brevard County and the Kennedy Space Center responded.
"For the first time in my life, I saved my friend," Bugno said during an interview, tearing up as he described his actions.
The priest, who was revived, was airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne and is expected to survive, police said.