Kelli Deering of Masset will receive an award this weekend for her role in saving a young woman's life last summer.
She will receive the award from the Lifesaving Society, a Canadian organization dedicated to preventing water related injury and death since 1911. The society described Ms Deering's heroic action in a recent news release.
Ms Deering, her son and some friends were wading in the Kispiox River on a hot July day during the Kispiox Music Festival. The river was high from a recent heavy rain. Further upstream two teenage boys and a girl decided to swim across the river. Ms Deering had been watching the teens and quickly realized the girl was in trouble when she yelled for help and went under.
Quickly, Ms Deering tore off her clothes and called to a fisherman further upstream for help. She swam out to the girl, grabbed her arm and towed her to shore. Once safely ashore, Ms Deering stayed with the girl until she chose to leave the scene. Shaken and hypothermic herself, Ms Deering went to a nearby first aid station and reported the incident. For her heroic action, Ms Deering will receive a Silver Medal for Bravery.
Ms Deering will be among 19 recipients of the Bravery Awards from the Lifesaving Society March 29 at the annual Honour and Rescue Award Ceremony in Vancouver.