'I thought he’d drown me': Kamloops man to be awarded for act of bravery
Kamloops resident Rob Griffiths will be presented with a Certificate of Commendation by Kamloops Fire Rescue for his live-saving efforts of two people who were struggling in the North Thompson River earlier this month. Griffiths was still recovering emotionally when he spoke with...
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Kamloops resident Rob Griffiths will be presented with a Certificate of Commendation by Kamloops Fire Rescue for his live-saving efforts of two people who were struggling in the North Thompson River earlier this month.
Griffiths was still recovering emotionally when he spoke with iNFOnews.ca a few days after the harrowing ordeal
https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kamloops-man-saves-swimmer-drowning-in-thompson-river/it105664
that occurred on July 8 on Aviation Way.
Griffiths was riding his bike in the area and watched two young men jump into the river off a float plane dock. One man started drowning while the other was struggling, so Griffiths dove in to bring them safely back to shore.
“I was apprehensive because the guy drowning was so much bigger than me and I thought he’d drown me,” Griffiths said. “He was too big to grab around the chest like you learn to do in swimming lessons, I sort of grabbed him by the underarm and held him up.”
The second guy was struggling to keep afloat.
“The current was strong, it was pulling us away from shore and was hard to move in, it took everything to fight it. It all happened in less than five minutes.”
READ MORE: Unsurprisingly, goose poop still a massive problem on Okanagan beaches
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The award will be presented to Griffiths at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1 at Fire Hall number 1 on Summit Drive, however it isn’t open for the public to attend.
“Going forward we want to recognize residents who do acts of bravery in our community, it’s something the fire chief has on his radar to do more of,” said community and protective services assistant with the City, Monica Chan.
READ MORE: SWEPT AWAY: Another near river drowning in Kamloops prompts call for action
https://infotel.ca/newsitem/swept-away-another-near-river-drowning-in-kamloops-prompts-call-for-action/it105854
Rob Griffiths was not available for comment in time for publication.
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