One year ago today, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was surrounded by six strangers who tried to help him after he was shot on the steps of the National War Memorial.

One of those strangers was Martin Magnan, 47, who ran over after hearing the gunfire while out for a coffee. Though he and the others worked to save Cirillo, the soldier’s wounds were too severe, and Magnan could do nothing but hold Cirillo's hand as he died.

One year later, the memory of that day -- and a man he never knew -- are still very much with Magnan. But he’s grateful to be able to take part in ceremonies to mark the anniversary, which should help bring a little more closure for him.

“It’s been an up-and-down year. I’ve gone through my personal trials,” Magnan told CTV’s Canada AM from Ottawa Thursday.

“So today is going to be special to see everyone, to see the city come out with all the grandeur and the fly-past,” he said, referring to plans for four CF-18 fighter jets to fly past the war memorial.

“It’s a definite sense of closure for myself and hopefully, the city as well.”

After the events of that Wednesday morning one year ago, Magnan says he just wanted his life to go back to normal. But what he didn’t realize at the time was how deeply affected he had been watching a man die in his arms.

“I thought I was fine,” he said. “I really wasn’t, but I did believe I was fine. So I just kept going to work. That, in retrospect, was an awful idea.”

By the weekend, Magnan was spending the whole day just lying on the sofa, staring at the blinds. He found that all he wanted to do was sleep but when he did close his eyes, he was plagued by nightmares.

He would also get hit by sudden overwhelming urges to nap to shut off his brain. Eventually, Magnan says he realized he needed help..

“I sought counselling from a psychologist. I did 12 sessions through work and that helped me out a lot,” he said.

“The first couple were the hardest of course because you sit there and you want to talk about your experience but there’s a lot of hesitation.”

Magnan says his family and friends were a great help during that time, offering their support and understanding.

“You get through these things. The summer did me a lot of good, when you’re outside a lot, you do a lot of walking, you eat well,” he said.

A year later, Magnan says he has new respect for soldiers who cope with PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

He has stayed in touch with the other civilians and military members who tried so hard to help and says he is still in awe of their work that day.

“The military personnel were incredible,” he said.

“They were in control of themselves, they were focused… They were giving it all. It was very impressive to be there with these people, it really was.”