Manitouwadge Men Recognized For Saving OPP Officer
AWARD: St. John Ambulance Awards & Commissioner’s Citations
THUNDER BAY, ON – Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at the North West Region OPP Awards Ceremonies Best Western Nor’Wester Hotel & Conference Centre four Manitouwadge men were recognized for the quick thinking they used to save an OPP Officers life.
In addition to receiving Commissioner’s Citations for Lifesaving, MICHAEL CAMPBELL, GILBERT GERVAIS, ED HEDDERSON and JOHN SOARES also received awards presented in conjunction with St. John Ambulance.
The St. John awards recognize people who have relieved pain and suffering through the proper application of first aid or saved, or attempted to save, a human life by means of personal knowledge of first aid.
When their actions saved a life…
During the early evening of September 4, 2009, an OPP officer was enroute to the scene of a serious motor vehicle collision near Manitouwadge, Ontario, when he struck a cow moose.
The moose fell into the windshield, crushing the roof against the officer and knocking him unconscious. The police vehicle entered the ditch and rolled onto its roof with the officer still secured by his seat belt.
A short time later, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Gervais, Mr. Hedderson and Mr. Soares were travelling to work together when they came upon the scene and stopped to assist.
They found the injured and semi‑conscious officer trapped in the wreckage.
The men attempted to extricate the officer, but could not as his body armour and radio were snagged within the vehicle.
Risking injury to themselves from broken glass and debris, the men reached further into the car and were able to remove the equipment then pull the officer to safety.
They accessed the trunk of the damaged police cruiser to retrieve a first aid kit and obtain bandages, which they applied to the officer’s head, arms and hands in an attempt to control the bleeding from his wounds.
The men stayed with the officer until emergency services arrived.
The officer has since recovered from his injuries.
We honour these four men for their actions, which saved the officer’s life.
Ed Hedderson receives the Commissioner's Citation for Lifesaving.
Mike Campbell receives the OPP Commissioner's Citation for Lifesaving.
**Photos courtesy Northwest Region OPP Media Relations
