Metro Detroit Marine helps rescue woman on Mt. Fuji in Japan

(WJBK) - A local marine helped to save a woman's life in Japan.  Cpl. Christopher Ehms rescued the victim, who became ill on top of Mount Fuji, getting her medical treatment just in time.

"We were just so calm during the whole situation and it was like it was natural," says Ehms.  "We didn't even have to think about it."

He and four other marines were hiking in Japan's highest mountain Independence Day weekend when they came across a woman in need of help.

"We saw her on the ground and she was pretty unresponsive."

"She was having a hard time breathing," says Ehms.

Ehms and the other marines took action by making a stretcher out of walking sticks and their shirts, carrying the woman down the mountain.

Ehms remebered passing a police station lower on the mountain and ran ahead to inform police.

Police retrieved the woman, who made a full recovery.

Ehms and his comrades were honored with the Navy and Marine Corps achievement medals.

"Honestly that was very humbling," says Ehms.  "It's kind of crazy that something that was so easy for us to do was being recognized by the Marine Corps."