Police have a local man to thank after he dove into the Fraser River Sunday afternoon to save another man from drowning.
Passersby near Westminster Pier Park called police around 1 p.m. on Oct. 18 when they heard shouts coming from the river below.
“While we were responding and deploying our police boat, a passerby heard the calls for help and ended up jumping in the river to help him (the victim) out,” Acting Sgt. Jeff Scott told the Record.
Officers and firefighters soon reached the two men and pulled them both from the water. The victim was taken to hospital where he was still being treated when the Record spoke with Scott on Monday.
The good Samaritan, former Salmonbellie and resident of the Royal City, Mark Turra, was unharmed in the incident. The Record requested an interview with Turra, but did not get a response.
New Westminster police along with B.C. Ambulance, the local fire department and marine rescue team all responded to the incident. At this point it’s unclear how the man ended up in the river.
