When three Esquimalt firefighters plunged into the waters of the Gorge Waterway to attend to a drowning person in 2015, receiving an award was the furthest thing from their minds. They were after all, just doing their job.
But Fire Chief Chris Jancowski felt otherwise.
He nominated Capt. Troy Saldana and firefighters Jason Hutchinson and Morgan Williams for Governor GeneralB次元官网网址檚 Awards after saving the life of an 82-year-old man who was in distress when crews arrived to the Tillicum Bridge at 5:30 p.m. on April 16, 2015.
B次元官网网址淭he person in the water appeared to be unconscious and face down,B次元官网网址� Jancowski said Monday in a presentation to council. B次元官网网址淎cting Asst. Chief Troy Saldana made a critical split-second decision to enter the water and [begin] the rescue.B次元官网网址�
Hutchinson and Williams swam out to assist Saldana, who by then was administering CPR in the water.
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Jancowski stressed that although he offered his colleagueB次元官网网址檚 names for consideration, it was a vote by the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee that ultimately decided their actions were deemed notable.
The chief said it was an extreme privilege to present Saldana and Hutchinson with their awards at the meeting, calling their actions B次元官网网址渉eroic.B次元官网网址� They and Williams, who was unable to attend, received a Certificate of Commendation, B次元官网网址渋n recognition of those who made a significant contribution to providing assistance to other persons in a selfless manner.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always nice to recognized for your actions,B次元官网网址� said Saldana, a 14-year veteran of the department. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 do this job to be recognized. Day to day we see the effects of what we do, [but] to get recognized afterward by the Governor General B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 gratifying.B次元官网网址�
Members of Esquimalt Fire and Rescue lined the back of councilB次元官网网址檚 chambers in support of their fellow firefighters.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great honour and to have my family here and have the fire guys show up,B次元官网网址� Hutchinson said. A member of the department since 2004, he remembers running on adrenaline that day, relying on his training and thinking fast. B次元官网网址淲e just went into the water and thankfully it was a good outcome.B次元官网网址�
