At the Irvine City Council meeting last week, I had the honor of presenting an official Commendation for Heroism from the City of Irvine to Irvine resident Mahnez Lavasani, whose heroism and swift action resulted in saving a life.

Irvine City Councilmember Melissa Fox, Mahnaz Lavasani, her daughter, and Mayor Christina Shea

This past June, I was shopping in the Woodbury Home Depot when I saw an adult male face down on the floor.  I called 9-11 as two male shoppers crouched over the man on the floor, rolled him over and, I believed, began CPR.

I then attempted to locate an AED (Automated External Defibrillator).  Store staff did not know where an AED was located.  I did a check of the offices, storefront, and other areas.  When I failed to find an AED, I returned to the collapsed man.

I was horrified to see that the two men who had turned over the unconscious man had not started CPR as I had thought.  Instead, Ms. Mahnez Lavasani had jumped in to help while the others watched.

The unconscious man was the stare manager and Ms. Lavasani’s  quick and decisive actions saved his life.

City of Irvine Commendation for Heroism for Mahnaz Lavasani

The Commendation noted that Ms. Lavasani “immediately took life-saving measures by performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR),” which resulted in the victim “regaining consciousness prior to the arrival of emergency personnel.”

Ms. Lavasani’s “rapid responsiveness, courageous thinking, and training in CPR, prevented what could have been a catastrophic sitituation” and was instrumental in saving the life the store manager.

Thank you again, Mahnaz Lavasani.

Irvine is proud of you and grateful for your heroism.