Medavie Health Services West Paramedics received a call to respond to an 8 -year-old boy experiencing hypothermia signs and symptoms after being pulled from the river in Saskatoon on April 10 at 5:32 p.m.
On arriving, paramedics learned that an 8-year-old boy and his 7-year-old cousin were on the river bank when the 8-year-old boy slipped and fell into the river. The current quickly took him away from the shoreline and he was in immediate danger.
Running on the Meewasin trail at the time was Brad Pilon and his wife Ashley Pilon. Brad heard the boy screaming that he couldn’t swim; then witnessed the boy briefly go under water. He immediately ran into the river and was able to grab the boy and swim him back to safety.
“It was a case of being in the right place at the right time, I saw this little boy in trouble and did everything I could possibly do to reach him” said Brad Pilon.
“A tragic situation was avoided due to Brad’s actions; there is no doubt that Brad saved this young boy’s life,” said Troy Davies, Director of Public Affairs Medavie Health Services West. “We spoke with Brad yesterday after seeing the footage that his wife Ashley took and let him know he will be receiving our STAR award at the Badge, Shield and Star event this September.
“What was more rewarding is Brad’s brother Glen is currently one of our paramedics who has worked for us for the past 26 years”.
The boy and his cousin were treated and released on scene to the Saskatoon Police, who drove the boys home.
Video of the event (filmed by Ashley Pilon)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yj43c8baeklrihp/VID-20210411-WA0003%20-%20Copy.mp4?dl=0