Two brave Brennan Park Recreation Centre workers are getting lifesaving awards later this month.
In two separate incidents six months apart the two individuals were involved in water rescues.Gurjit Dhaliwal, a recreation services attendant with the District of Squamish, helped three people out of the frigid waters of the Fraser River Thursday night (Feb. 26).
Much like Linda Barry, Brennan Park's head lifeguard, who helped a motorist out of Howe Sound at Britannia Beach last September, Dhaliwal happened upon a situation where a vehicle went off the road and into a body of water.
Dale Miller, the Executive Director for the BC and Yukon branch of the Lifesaving Society, said Barry and Dhaliwal are going to get silver medals of bravery from the society.
Dhaliwal, 26, was driving with his father after a soccer game in the city last week. They were travelling on River Road at about 9:55 p.m. when a van ahead of them went off the road, down the embankment and into the Fraser River.
Dhaliwal immediately called 911 using his mobile phone.
While he was on the phone a number of other vehicles stopped at the scene, including a transit bus.
"I was still talking to them [a 911 operator] when a man and a woman went into the river," Dhaliwal said. "They got off that transit bus. The man had taken a rock with him and smashed the back hatch window. They both pulled the woman out."
Dhaliwal estimates the trio was about 10 metres from the riverbank. He watched as they swam to within about four metres of the shore.
"The water was very cold and they were tired," Dhaliwal said. The distraught driver of the van didn't help the efforts of the unidentified man and woman as she thrashed about in the water. The rescue effort became a struggle in the crippling cold water.
"They were screaming for help," Dhaliwal said.
Plunging into the winter waters of the Fraser River wasn't something Dhaliwal put much thought into. Instead he just responded to the life and death situation. He ended the 911 call and went into action.
"When I heard their cries for help I jumped in," said Dhaliwal. "Right when I hit the water and felt how cold it was I couldn't take full breaths," he said. "My mobility was restricted because of the cold water."
Despite his challenging environment, Dhaliwal swam out to the struggling swimmers. He said that he was able to grab the shirt of the van driver and the two original rescuers were on either side of him.
"I grabbed her shirt," he said. "My head went under water a few times and I wasn't making good progress. I was starting to freeze up. Someone had thrown a rope out. I just grabbed the rope with my left hand and held her with my right hand. The other two were holding on as well."
By the time the four cold and wet people were out of the water emergency vehicles were on the scene.
Dhaliwal said he was suffering from mild hypothermia that soon passed after he changed his clothes and sat in a warm vehicle.
The Lifesaving Society bravery awards are being presented at an award ceremony on Mar. 27 in the Hotel Vancouver. A number of dignitaries will present the awards, including Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo.
