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◆ KINETTE CONVENTION P. 2 ◆ EDITORIAL P. 6
◆ VANDALISM AT AIRPORT P. 4 ◆ POLICE WEEK P. 7-9
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Fort St. James man helps save couple Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier It should have just been another trip to Prince George, but instead, it turned into a trip they will never forget. Blake Olesiuk and his wife Erica of Fort St. James were driving along Highway 16 on May 5 around 10 a.m. with their two young children in the back seat, when they saw vehicles stopping. They then saw a car had gone off the road and landed in a small lake near Meier Road in the Cluculz Lake area. The vehicle was beginning to sink, and no one was exiting the vehicle. Olesiuk said some- Blake Olesiuk (left) swam out to help an elderly couple from Alaska escape their sinking vehicle on May 5. Thanks to Olesiuk and other bystanders, one called 911, but the the couple managed to get out of the vehicle and reached shore just as the car filled completely with water. operator told them no Cathy Robinson Photo one should go in the water and help was on had not yet touched bottom, and it began to sink even faster, man held onto the car, remaining in the water. its way. As Olesiuk and the woman were pulled to the bank, anAs Olesiuk ran down the steep bank to the edge of the wa- so he moved back into the water. Olesiuk then helped the elderly male passenger exit other man waded out to meet them, helping them the final ter from the highway, he said he was already taking his dress distance to safety. shirt off and getting his wallet out of his pocket, preparing to through the passenger window. But as he was helping the man, the crowd on shore began When he got the woman to shore, Olesiuk said he looked go into the water if necessary. shouting the woman needed help, and he turned back to the back and saw the man was now up to his chest in water and “I think there’s something just in each of us to help somecar to see her swimming towards the passenger side window he did not look like he was doing well. one in need,” he said. So once again, Olesiuk swam out in the icy water to help But he hesitated long enough to discuss things with some as well. Olesiuk said he could see they “didn’t have a lot of time him to shore, and once again, when he reached the man, the of the other bystanders and one person supplied them with left before the whole car was submerged,” with about eight group on shore helped drag them both to safety. a rope, so he tied it around his waist, thinking maybe they inches between the roof of the car and the rising water in“I didn’t really feel the cold while I was in the water,” he could try and pull the car closer to shore if necessary. said. At the point when he entered the water and began to swim side. He reached in and pulled the woman through the window, By the time Olesiuk and the man were on land, Olesiuk out to the car, the elderly couple in the car were visible, still grabbing her under her arms. said he “looked back at the car and it had sunk.” sitting in the car with the water up to their knees. As soon as she was out of the car, he felt the rope grab When he reached the car, Olesiuk climbed onto the hood, See more on page 3 trying to get out of the water for the time being, but the car him, and the people on the shore pulled them both, while the
45th Anniversary
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