An Iowa State student is a hero — and a life-saver — after averting a recent suicide attempt.

Matt Poulson, a senior in animal science, was honored last week by the Story County Sheriff’s Department for his heroic deeds at Peterson’s Pits on Oct. 1.

Poulson was trying out his new truck at the recreation area north of Ames with his girlfriend, Renee, and her seven-year-old daughter, Frankie. Poulson said they were trying to find wildlife to show Frankie when they drove past a parked mini-van.

“It was kind of by chance we came on the van,” Poulson said. “I saw the van there when we first pulled in, but I didn’t think anything of it.

“As we were driving by, I noticed there was a hose on the tailpipe running to the van,” Poulson said. “I said, ‘Somebody’s committing suicide,’ and threw it in reverse,” he remembered.

Poulson said he jumped out of his truck and began knocking on the windows of the van.

Opening the passenger-side door, Poulson found a man he described as about 35 or 40 years old laying down in the back of the van.

The man sat up groggily and crawled out the sliding door, Poulson said.

“He was barely even able to understand what I was saying. It looked to me like he had quite a bit to drink,” he said.

Poulson then asked if he could borrow the man’s cellular phone, thinking that was the only way he could get assistance.

“I just pretended I was lost and needed his phone to call for help. He was pretty out of it, so he was probably getting close to [death],” Poulson said.

Ames police received Poulson’s call at about 9:30 p.m.

“I just sat there and talked to him until the sheriff’s department arrived,” Poulson said. Story County Deputy Russ Belz took the man to Mary Greeley Medical Center.

Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald awarded Poulson a Sheriff’s Citizen Commendation at last Tuesday’s Story County Board of Supervisors meeting and credited him with saving the unidentified man’s life.

Poulson said he had no idea he was being recognized until about a week after the incident, when he received a call from the sheriff’s department.

He credited the sheriff and his deputies with taking the time to fill out the paperwork for his award, saying he appreciated their hard work.

Poulson’s Citizen Commendation is a framed certificate which commends him for “exceptional performance of service.” It is the same award police officers receive for meritorious acts in the line of duty.

Poulson was humble when asked about his exploits.

“I just wanted to keep the guy from hurting himself,” he said. “I didn’t feel like I could just walk out and leave him.”

Poulson, a Cy-Ride bus driver, said his co-workers found out about the honor last week, but he said not many others have noticed, and he is comfortable with that.

“I don’t really need a lot of fame from it,” he said.