Making Subs & Saving Lives
COOPER: We want to introduce you tonight to two remarkable people, brothers -- they're also former firefighters. And as you'll see they continue to save lives but in a very surprising way. With our "Building Up America" report, here's David Mattingly.</s>DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It came from out of nowhere. One second Francisco Tuttle was feeling fine.</s>FRANCISCO TUTTLE: It was a typical day, typical morning; had a busy schedule that day. And --</s>MATTINGLY (on camera): This is where it happened?</s>TUTTLE: Right here, exactly.</s>MATTINGLY (voice-over): But in an instant, he was on the floor, unconscious, not breathing, no pulse, the victim of a sudden heart attack. (voice-over): Francisco Tuttle had no way of knowing at that time that his life was about to depend on an unusual act of philanthropy, the donation of a special piece of equipment that came about in a very unusual set of events. (on camera): Francisco Tuttle was saved by a pickle bucket?</s>CHRIS SORENSEN, FOUNDER, FIREHOUSE SUBS: In one way or another.</s>ROBIN SORENSEN, FOUNDER, FIREHOUSE SUBS: Yes.</s>MATTINGLY: Brothers Chris and Robin Sorenson are former firefighters who founded a national chain of sandwich shops called Firehouse Subs. Their connection to Francisco Tuttle and that pickle bucket we were talking about has its roots dating back 5 years to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.</s>R. SORENSEN: We're giving these people who have lost everything a hot plate of food and half of them were breaking down crying.</s>MATTINGLY (voice-over): That happened in Pearlington, Mississippi, virtually wiped out by the storm. The Sorensen brothers drove in food and supplies. Not feeling like that was enough, they decided to give the town a used fire truck they found on eBay. (on camera): And you just couldn't stop after that?</s>R. SORENSEN: No, that was just the beginning.</s>C. SORENSEN: You start to see the big picture and believe me, everybody needs something. There's no department that doesn't need some kind of a gear.</s>MATTINGLY: Since 2005, the Sorensen Brothers Foundation has donated more than $2 million worth of equipment in 13 states. A lot of that money comes from selling pickle buckets emptied by their shops.</s>R. SORENSEN: We sell 5,000 to 10,000 pickle buckets a month. At $2 a-piece, that all goes in the foundation and it keeps them out of landfills too.</s>C. SORENSEN: Yes, it's great.</s>MATTINGLY: That money helped pay for this device called the AutoPulse (ph), donated to the Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina Fire Department which brings us back to Francisco Tuttle.</s>TUTTLE: I was dead.</s>MATTINGLY: The precision nonstop compressions of the donated AutoPulse brought Tuttle back from the brink. And today I'm bringing him to meet the guys who made it possible. (on camera): Got somebody I would like you to meet. This is Francisco Tuttle.</s>C. SORENSEN: Francisco.</s>TUTTLE: What's up, brother.</s>MATTINGLY (voice-over): This is the first time the Sorensens had ever met someone saved by their acts of charity.</s>TUTTLE: If it wasn't for your contributions and your donations, I wouldn't be here.</s>MATTINGLY: Two ex-firemen finding new ways to come to the rescue. David Mattingly, CNN, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.</s>COOPER: Helping to build up America. That's it for 360 tonight. "LARRY KING LIVE" starts now. I'll see you tomorrow night.