Jamey Ruth Klassen is a Canadian recognized for her heroic actions in saving a man from drowning in Georgian Bay, Ontario, in July 2020, at age 16.
Rescue Incident
On July 26, 2020, Christopher G. Robertson’s kayak capsized in Georgian Bay near Collingwood, Ontario.
Klassen, then a high school student from Guelph, Ontario, observed the situation from Sunset Point Beach.
She swam approximately 600 feet to reach Robertson, who had sunk to the bottom of the lake, about 12 feet deep at that location.
Klassen dove down, pulled him to the surface while he was unconscious and not breathing, and with great effort, brought him closer to shore.
Assistance from a paddle-boarder helped bring Robertson the rest of the way.
After Jamey rescued Robertson from drowning, emergency teams from the Collingwood and Blue Mountains Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and local paramedic ambulance services assessed him on shore and determined he was in critical condition.
Medical responders provided immediate care, including basic life support to stabilize his breathing and consciousness before transporting him by ambulance to a nearby hospital for further evaluation and treatment by medical professionals.
Robertson received the necessary hospital care and recovered after the incident.
Recognition
For her extraordinary courage, Jamey Ruth Klassen was awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal, the highest honor for civilian heroism in North America.
News outlets and social media widely recognized her bravery, with many calling her a hero for risking her life to save another.
At the time of the rescue, Klassen was a 16-year-old student from Guelph, Ontario, on vacation with her family.
Jamey Ruth Klassen is proof that heroes don’t always wear uniforms or capes.
Sometimes, they’re 16, fearless, and willing to risk it all for a stranger.
sources —
https://www.carnegiehero.org/hero-search/jamey-ruth-klassen/
