Bridge Workers Receive Award

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C.-    It was just another day on the job for Laverne Ross, Troy Iwaskow, Shawn Kelly, and Victor Mack, who are working on the Simon Fraser Bridge project. Thanks to their quick action, a trio of boaters were saved on June 30, 2008. Ross, Iwaskow, Kelly, and Mack received the Canadian Red Cross “Rescuer Award” in recognition of their efforts.

The boaters got in over their heads while floating down the Fraser River earlier this year. An older man was in an aluminum boat pulling his son in a canoe and a girl in and inner tube. None of them were wearing lifejackets. 

They were unable to reach Paddle Wheel Park, their intended destination due to a lack of engine power. When they reached the bridge they became entangled in the pier and the boat and inner tube overturned. While the girl was able to grab on to some bracing underneath the bridge and climb out of the water, the older man continued floating down the river hanging on to a cooler while his son followed in the swamped canoe without a paddle. 

Kelly, Mack, and Iwaskow used a rescue boat to retrieve the man and his son downstream while Ross, a crane operator, lowered Dean Wood in a basket to pick up the other girl. 

The boaters are alive and well, thanks to Bridge workers bravery and quick action. 

The Canadian Red Cross – Northern BC & Yukon Region honoured the bridge workers lifesaving efforts with the presentation of Red Cross Rescuer Awards.

The Red Cross Rescuer Award is presented to non-professional rescuers or off-duty first responders who have volunteered to save a life, prevented further injury and/or provided comfort to the injured.

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