The life-saving effort of a Washington firefighter/EMT and his wife after an East Carolina University football game is the Daily News’ No. XX story for 2014.

Even when they are off duty, many emergency-response people find themselves performing life-saving skills.

Alan McCutcheon, a Washington firefighter/EMT and others, did just that Dec. 6 t in Greenville after leaving the football game between East Carolina University and the University of Central Florida. Washington and Greenville officials are hailing McCutcheon as a lifesaver. The McCutcheons’ life-saving effort was recognized by the Washington City Council during its Dec. 10 meeting.

McCutcheon said he’s not a hero, just a firefighter/EMT who loves his profession because it allows him to help people.

“We were doing what we love to do. That’s why we do what we do — because we love to help people. Nowhere near being a hero; that’s for sure. It’s all left in God’s hands; that’s for sure,” McCutcheon said.

McCutcheon’s effort was brought to the attention of Washington officials by Chad Edwards, a master patrol officer with the ECU Police Department in a letter he wrote to Robbie Rose, chief of the city’s Fire-Rescue-EMS Department. Edwards wrote: “I just wanted to extend a huge thank you to Washington FF/EMT-I Alan McCutcheon. As he and his wife were leaving the ECU football game on 12/04/14 they came upon the scene of a motor vehicle crash that had just occurred on Charles Blvd. One of the drivers was unresponsive in the roadway and Greenville Fire-Rescue had an extended response time due to heavy game day traffic. Mr. McCutcheon assisted other medical personnel by starting chest compressions. He remained on the scene until the incident was under adequate control.”

McCutcheon said he and his wife began CPR on the man. Soon afterward, two doctors arrived at the scene, Dr. Emilie Pendley, with ECU Emergency Medicine and medical director for Beaufort County EMT providers, and Dr. Bryan Kitch. The two doctors often work football games at ECU. The responders continued to work on the man, he said. Eventually, Greenville EMS personnel transported the man to Vidant Medical Center.

The McCutcheons said they did nothing more than what many others would do — help a fellow human in need.

Freddie C. Fuller II said they helped save his father’s life.

“Alan and Carolyn McCutcheon did something that, in my mind, everybody should do — and that’s stop and help someone,” said Stacy Drakeford, the city’s director of police and fire-rescue-EMS, during the recognition ceremony. “These are the kind of people that we love having work for the city.”

Fuller, who attended the ceremony, hugged the McCutcheons and thanked them for helping save his father’s life. The elder Fuller is recovering at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, the younger Fuller said.

“Words cannot express what you have done for this family,” the younger Fuller said. “Thank God, you were there to save my father. You guys were the angels there on the scene. … My Dad is looking forward to the day when he gets a chance to thank you personally.”