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Dragon boaters honoured for rescue on Bedford Channel

Langley Team receives Red Cross Award for pulling man to safety on Fraser River
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Some members of the Abreast with FORTitude dragon boat team

Members of the Abreast with FORTitude Dragon boat team of Langley received  a Red Cross First Aid and Water Safety Rescuer Award Friday (July 11) for saving a drowning man in April.

The rowers, all breast cancer survivors, were practicing on Bedford Channel when a man who was rowing in another boat fell in.

He could not swim.

The team paddled at race pace, pulled up alongside the man, tossed him a personal flotation device, and guided him to shore where paramedics were waiting

“I am very proud of my teammates and that is why I nominated them for this award, said team member Cindy Reimer.

“We stayed calm and did not panic, we listened to our coach and steersperson and did our best to get to the man as quickly as we could to help him.”

The Rescuer Award recognizes acts of humanity that use Red Cross skills and training learned through water safety, first aid and swim programs.

“What Abreast with FORTitude did took tremendous courage and teamwork,” said Tania Burgi, Red Cross water safety program representative.

To learn more about Red Cross services visit:redcross.ca/bc.



Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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