What began as a meeting to discuss bylaw issues turned into an opportunity to thank the people who saved his life for View Royal resident JC Scott.

Scott was walking home near Victoria General Hospital at about 8 p.m. on Dec. 20 when he was struck down by a heart attack on Watkiss Way. Although what happened right after that remains a mystery to Scott, he found out later that an off-duty Saanich police officer who happened to be nearby called 911 and began performing CPR. View Royal Fire Rescue arrived within minutes and took over from there, Scott learned.

B次元官网网址淭hey stayed with me for four hours until I went into the Royal Jubilee,B次元官网网址� said Scott, who underwent angioplasty and had three stents installed a week later. B次元官网网址淚 was disappointed because I never got the name of the Saanich officer or the firefighters who assisted me B次元官网网址� I really wanted to thank them personally.B次元官网网址�

The opportunity to do exactly that arose unexpectedly on Jan. 19, when Scott and his partner, Anita, met with View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst and bylaw enforcement officer Enzo Calla, also a volunteer firefighter.

Before discussing their concerns the couple thanked Hurst for his past heroics rescuing a child from a fire, and said Scott had recently been saved by a View Royal firefighter hero as well.

B次元官网网址淧aul looked at (Calla) and said B次元官网网址榟eB次元官网网址檚 the guy you saved on Dec. 20,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Scott. B次元官网网址淓veryone just looked around the room and started to laugh. Then I asked if it was possible to meet the rest of the people who were on that team as well.B次元官网网址�

Calla said they would all be there the next evening for training, and the couple jumped at the chance to say thank you in person.

Coincidentally, Scott, a commercial and residential designer, had already scheduled a meeting that morning with View Royal Mayor David Screech to discuss a design-related matter at the mayorB次元官网网址檚 business, GreggB次元官网网址檚 Furniture and Upholstery.

B次元官网网址淒avid showed up to thank the firefighters as well,B次元官网网址� Scott said. B次元官网网址淚t was very emotional, a very powerful meeting,B次元官网网址� said Scott. B次元官网网址淭hey saved my life.B次元官网网址�

Calla, a volunteer firefighter for the past 25 years, including the past 10 at View Royal, said itB次元官网网址檚 an incredible feeling when people take the time to say thank you.

B次元官网网址淏ecause weB次元官网网址檙e often first on the scene, you donB次元官网网址檛 get a lot of closure once the paramedics take people to the hospital,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to know we made a difference.B次元官网网址�

Calla credited the efforts of everyone involved as helping produce a good result, including the off-duty police officer, the paramedics, his fellow View Royal Fire Rescue volunteers and the staff who took over once Scott arrived at the hospital.

It was fortunate there was a full crew at the hall that night as well, said Calla, who was the officer in charge that evening and responded from his home.

B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e in that situation, instinct and training kick in,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he stars were aligned that night; it was a total team effort.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com