Every year the Lifesaving Society holds a reception to honour those
who through very heroic deeds, have helped save the lives of people
who might have otherwise drowned. My wife Aline and I attend every year
because we find it awe-inspiring to hear how lives are saved through
the spontaneous actions of ordinary people reacting and accomplishing
extraordinary deeds. We also attend because our son Mitch and our daughter-in-law
Lorri-Ann are deeply committed Society volunteers. Mitch is emcee. It
flatters our ego to see our son up there doing his usual outstanding
job.
Of the 27 people receiving awards this year the two young Mowbray
brothers stood out the most for their incredible actions. It occurred
when ten year old Macauley and seven year old Calum were attending a
family reunion in Kelowna, B.C. They were swimming in the resort pool
while being supervised by their 87 year old year old great grand father
Bill Corbett. While walking near the pool edge, Bill Corbett slipped
and fell head first into the pool. The boys, alone in the pool, were
playing in the deep end. They thought he was playing; they soon realised
their great grandfather needed help.
Macauley thought "I can
do this, I remember what my swimming lessons taught me." Too short
to stand in the pool, they had to tread water while they struggled to
turn their grandfather over while trying to bring him to the shallow
end and assist him out of the pool. Upon reaching the shallow end steps
it soon became apparent that great grandfather had injured himself.
An ambulance rushed him to the hospital where he was treated for a broken
hip.
At the award presentation there was not a dry eye in the room as these
two young heroes proudly accepted their awards from the Provincial Attorney
General and grand prize scholarships.
Later while I was speaking with their mom, Fiona, I could see the glow
in her eyes and hear the pride in her voice as she hugged her two young
heroes. Unfortunately great grandfather Bill had not recovered sufficiently
to travel to the awards.
Ten year old Macaulay Mowbray and seven year old Calum Mowbray are two
very young ordinary Canadians committing very extraordinary valour.
They are Canadian Achievers.
Read more about the Lifesaving Society at
www.lifesaving.bc.ca
Read more about Macaulay and Calum at
www.canadianachievers.com
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