The Prince George Highway Rescue Society has honoured a local hero with the help of an areaMP, community members and businesses.
Finnley Goddard, 11 years old, was in a pickup truck with his family on Oct. 24 when his dad Blake lost control while trying to navigate an icy bend on an isolated road near Hixon.
After the truck rolled and came to rest on its passenger side in a field, Finn quickly unbuckled his eight-year-old brother Oliver and got him to safety, then went to help Blake.
Mom Kristi said she was in full panic mode at that time but Finn just kept telling her “you got this, you've gotta get out!”
Luckily with some help from Blake and a farmer who heard the crash, Kristi got out safely.
Finn was recognized as the PG Cougars Hero of the Week for his quick thinking action.
When another community member read about Finn's action on social media, she immediately thought he needed to be recognized further for his efforts.
Amanda Keller quickly reached out to the community and found the Prince George Highway Rescue Society wanted to help give Finn the accolades he deserved.
Keller rallied several members of the public, small businesses and one very impressed MP for Cariboo-Prince George, Todd Doherty, to come take part in a small ceremony held at the society's station.
Keller said she was so moved by how Finn took action, making sure his family was safe in the face of danger, she couldn't just let it go by.
"It gave me goose bumps to hear about how brave he was," Keller said. "Things can happen very fast and if they weren't so lucky it could've gone a very different way. I chose to have this event here at the Prince George Highway Rescue centre because if the accident had been worse this team would've been deployed to go out and rescue the family."
The society honoured Finn with a certificate recognizing his quick action, and so did Doherty, who chose to recognize both boys as they faced adversity together to help their parents.
When Finn was called up to the front of the room it seemed like Christmas morning because there were so many gifts on the table waiting for Finn and younger brother Oliver to collect.
"Finn has been kind of overwhelmed with the recognition," Kristi said after the ceremony.
Mom wasn't really surprised that Finn took such quick action while remaining calm through the whole experience.
"Since kindergarten all his friends' parents would tell their kids if anything goes wrong find Finn, he'll know what to do," Kristi said. "He's always just been like that."
Blake took a moment to reflect back.
"We were all pretty overwhelmed at the time of the accident and to see Kristi in panic mode was hard but she knows what could have happened," Blake said. "Kristi works with the coroner's office and she's seen the worst of the worst. So it's a quick wake up and you sure become grateful for everything working that day, like air bags and then Finn as he took action because everything changes that quick."
Those in the community who gave Finn gifts and gift certificates include Doug's Donuts, Northland Dodge, Sticky's Candy, Sushi Yuri, John Brink Group of Companies, Famous Players, Diamante Body and Boutique, Beanne Krause, Sat and Preet Sandhu, Mike Harbak and Amanda Keller.
