An afternoon of drinking beside the Gorge Waterway ended with one man rescued from a near-drowning, thanks in no small part to a clutch decision by a 17-year-old Saanichite.
A series of events led to the rescue of a 53-year-old Victoria man who was resuscitated by B.C. Ambulance Services and is reportedly making a recovery in hospital.
Saanich teen Shauna Pearson was enjoying the sunny Wednesday afternoon with her mom Tasha Caissie. The two were sitting on the rocks at the Gorge Narrows, close to the Gorge Bridge, when they heard a commotion.
B次元官网网址淎t the time we both thought people were swimming in the water,B次元官网网址� Caissie said. B次元官网网址淸Pearson] started filming a video thinking, B次元官网网址極h wow thereB次元官网网址檚 actually people swimming,B次元官网网址� but we realized within a minute they were in trouble.B次元官网网址�
It was about 4:30 p.m., when GorgeB次元官网网址檚 famous reverse narrows are near their peak and the current flows extremely fast.
At first Caissie wasnB次元官网网址檛 exactly sure what was happening but saw someone jump into the water to save one person. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when she called 911.
Two rescued from Gorge narrows
B次元官网网址� Saanich B次元官网网址 (@saanichnews)
B次元官网网址淎 man jumped in from the dock and a woman came out of nowhere from the forest to save him.B次元官网网址� Caissie recalled. B次元官网网址淣o sooner did I look up from my phone, thereB次元官网网址檚 my daughter. SheB次元官网网址檚 like 90 pounds soaking wet, five-foot-three, and she jumped in the water and pulled [a group of three people hanging onto each other] against the tide to the dock.B次元官网网址�
Caissie estimates Pearson was in the water for about seven minutes, pulling the group against the flow of the reverse falls. Currents had been pulling the group away from a possible rescue.
Vehicles and personnel from Esquimalt Fire, Saanich Police and B.C. Ambulance Services lined the Gorge Bridge (Tillicum Road).
Reports of exactly how the 53-year-old man fell in the water are still unconfirmed. Saanich Police noted alcohol was a factor.
Caissie witnessed that the male had disappeared under water and a male rescuer jumped into the water and pulled the drowning man to the surface. A woman also entered the water to help. However, the tides were too strong for the two and they were screaming for help as they were being carried away by the tide.
B次元官网网址淚t was a chain reaction of rescuing,B次元官网网址� Caissie said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 say they were in there for at least 10 minutes.B次元官网网址�
Pearson, confident from her skills as a surfer, was able to swim the trio to the dock. All three rescuers were then treated for hypothermia while paramedics worked to revitalize the 53-year-old.
A Facebook post from a member of the manB次元官网网址檚 family said B次元官网网址渉e is alive, and not in ICU anymore. Our family is so blessed that you were there when you were thereB次元官网网址� Thank you from all of his familyB次元官网网址ou saved his life, thank you.B次元官网网址�
Caissie said the ordeal has been emotional for her daughter, but sheB次元官网网址檚 doing well.
B次元官网网址淸Monday was] her birthday, weB次元官网网址檙e able to distract her, but right after it happened, you could see sheB次元官网网址檇 trail off [mentally], it was traumatic.B次元官网网址�
reporter@saanichnews.com
