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Rescuer motivated to save boy, 4, from drowning after losing two of his own children |
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Written by THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Monday, 14 July 2008 |
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GRAND RAPIDS, Man. - A fisherman whose two young sons died tragically says he thought about them when he dove into a fast-moving Manitoba river to save a four-year-old boy stuck in a sinking pickup truck
Kevin Chartrand was packing up after spending Sunday catching pickerel near the Grand Rapids First Nation in central Manitoba when he heard a man yelling for someone to help his grandson, who was trapped inside a truck sinking into the Saskatchewan River.
Chartrand, 32, kicked off his shoes and jumped in.
In 2002, Chartrand's two-month-old boy died of sudden infant death syndrome. A few years later, his one of his two-year-old twin sons was killed when he was accidentally crushed by a dresser.
"That's why I was willing to do anything to save that boy. I've been through it already," said Chartrand, who has five other children and is studying to be a jail guard.
"I just wanted to do anything I could to save him. I didn't want to let down his grandpa," he said.
Chartrand and his fiancee's father, William Ferland, and another fisherman were cleaning fish when they heard a commotion.
"We were sitting in the boat and heard a big splash, and looked up to see a white Chevy in the water," said Ferland, 49.
The pair raced over to the sinking truck while another fisherman, Guy Pranteau, followed Chartrand into the river.
When Chartrand reached the vehicle, he managed to stick his hand through a small crack in the window. It wasn't enough to help the boy, and the truck was going down fast.
"(The boy) grabbed my hand. That little boy was holding on tight, too ... But the little boy couldn't fit," Chartrand said.
"I dove in about four times to rescue the boy but I couldn't because the current kept moving the truck all around."
Fighting against the river's strong pull, Ferland and fisherman Brian Turner worked to steady the boat. After Chartrand's attempts, Turner handed him a hammer.
"(Chartrand) dove under and managed to smash the window, but then had to come up for air, and of course the current took us down (the river) again," Ferland said.
Chartrand and Pranteau were about to dive again when the boy floated to the surface.
The four-year-old was flown to Children's Hospital of Winnipeg, about 430 kilometres south of the Grand Rapids reserve.
A hospital spokeswoman said he was listed in stable condition Monday.
RCMP say their investigation into the mishap is ongoing, but they believe a relative of the little boy left the truck running while collecting something from a home on the Grand Rapids reserve.
"Somehow, the child got the vehicle into gear, and drove the truck into the river," said Const. Chad Orr.
The efforts of the fishermen and the local band constable were "amazing," Orr said, noting that the current is strong along that part of the river, which is near a hydroelectric dam.
"The gentlemen that were in that boat were having great difficulties trying to stay over the truck because the current was pushing them away. You can imagine what that was like being that swimmer, trying to get down there," said Orr.
"That's probably one of the bravest things I've ever seen."
Ferland, a Grand Rapids band councillor, said it's fortunate that Chartrand was visiting the community from The Pas.
"He just happened to be out with us," Ferland said. "We're just grateful that these fairly young healthy guys were with us and able to swim."
- By Tamara King in Winnipeg
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Last Updated ( Monday, 14 July 2008 )
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