A relaxing day on the lake with friends and coworkers quickly shifted into something completely different when a watchful bystander noticed a manB次元官网网址檚 head drop below the surface of the water, and not come back up.
The quick actions of a fisherman and surrounding campers proved pivotal in saving an individual at Suzanne Lake near Jaffray, last Saturday.
B次元官网网址淲e were coming back from fishing, me and a friend of mine, we both had our young children in the boat,B次元官网网址� said Aaron Jones of Calgary.
As the group was approaching the dock in the middle of the lake, they saw a man who was having a hard time swimming, and was calling out for help. Nobody close by seemed to be moving towards the man. Elk Valley RCMP later confirmed that the man had developed a cramp in his legs which rendered him temporarily immobile.
B次元官网网址淎s we were moving the boat towards him, he went under, and he didnB次元官网网址檛 come back up,B次元官网网址� said Jones. B次元官网网址淪o once I saw that he was going under I jumped in, I went down, he was pretty much at the bottom by the time I got to him, (and I) swam him back up to the surface.
B次元官网网址淗e was completely unconscious, like eyes wide open,B次元官网网址� he continued. B次元官网网址淚 tried to feel for a pulse but I couldnB次元官网网址檛 feel anything. I donB次元官网网址檛 know if B次元官网网址� there was a lot going on at that point.B次元官网网址�
Others assisted Jones in getting the man to shore, at which time Jones immediately starting performing CPR.
B次元官网网址淎nother guy with his friends starting to do chest compressions, and after maybe seven or eight rounds, he came back to life,B次元官网网址� said Jones.
B次元官网网址淚t was pretty intense.B次元官网网址�
On the shore watching close by was the manB次元官网网址檚 pregnant wife, as well as his father-in-law. While he was recovering, his wife lay beside him and comforted him.
B次元官网网址淭hat hit home especially, because I was there with my wife and my young fella,B次元官网网址� said Jones.
Growing up, Jones received his bronze cross and was trained in resuscitation, water rescue, but this was many years ago.
Jones, an operations manager for a scaffolding company in Calgary, just happened to be in the Fernie area that weekend camping with friends. Jones said this certainly wasnB次元官网网址檛 how he planned to spend his weekend, but was very glad that the outcome was what it was.
He stressed that the rescue was not just him.
B次元官网网址淭here were a lot of factors that came together that kept that guy from dying,B次元官网网址� Jones said. B次元官网网址淗aving people in boats to help alleviate some of the strain on me after having to go down and get him, to bring him into shore. His friend who did chest compressionsB次元官网网址次元官网网址�
Jones explained that there were several others on shore, including local volunteer firefighters and mine rescue workers that were able to take over once the man was in recovery position, which allowed Jones to catch his breath.
B次元官网网址淚t was definitely a team effort, for sure,B次元官网网址� said Jones.
Once the dust settled, the saved man and his family invited Jones and his family up to their campsite, where they ate together; everyone expressing how thankful they were to be together.
Asked if he hesitated at all in the moment, Jones paused to think.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 what youB次元官网网址檝e got to do, right,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淟ike, I donB次元官网网址檛 know B次元官网网址� I didnB次元官网网址檛 really think about anything I was doing, I just kind of did it.B次元官网网址�
A request for comment from the individual who was saved was not returned by press time.
editor@thefreepress.ca
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