Watch: Man's emotional reunion with the Cary officer who saved his life

Two families and an entire school came together this week to celebrate a life-saving experience.

Green Hope High School planned a 'secret' event, advertised as a time to honor "excellence in service." In truth, the event was a cover to help the school surprise Cary police officer Brian Smith, a former resource officer at the school, as well as Eric Hall, a Cary High School athletic trainer.

Their surprise: A face-to-face meeting with the man whose life they helped save.

Last February, Robert Gresham, Sr. came to the school to see his granddaughter perform at a major cheerleader event. He was high up in the bleachers and suddenly felt very sick. His son Rob Gresham, Jr. helped him carefully go down steps to a school bathroom.

Gresham Jr. remembers his father getting weaker by the minute, saying, "I held my dad and asked, 'Are you okay?' He said, 'No, I’m not.'"

In fact, the elder Gresham was close to death.

"I thought I saw the life leave his body," recalls his son.

Officer Smith, who just happened to be in the area, saw the trouble and took quick action, checking his pulse.

Eric Hall also ran over, carrying an AED, or automated external defibrillator, just in case it was needed.

Smith’s CPR training paid off – and brought Gresham back to life.

Gresham and his family have never stopped being grateful for the two men's life-saving heroism. So this week they were happy to surprise the men, along members of the campus community.

Of course, heroes like Smith don’t often think of themselves as heroes.

"I was just doing my job that day, and I’m glad that God put me where he did that day. I know it was God that was in my hand," says Smith.

Hall was quick to give credit Smith, saying, "I was his wing-man that day; helped out the best I could."

Gresham, who played football for years as a former college and NFL star running back with the New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers and New York Jets, offered his best possible compliment to his heroes. He said,"To me, it was more important than football! It’s a life-saving thing, so I appreciate it very much."

At the end of the ceremony, Smith received an award for "outstanding performance in an emergency situation."

At an event on April 4, Eric Hall will be named State Athletic Director of the Year.

Hall says the incident highlights the need for more people to become trained in CPR, AED and First Aid. You never know when it may save a life.