When seven-year-old Lucia Elizabeth Dell saw that her grandfather had his eyes open in the pool, she knew something was seriously wrong and called for help.
Dell含羞草研究社檚 quick action to alert the lifeguard staff at Beban Pool on Sept. 8 helped save the life of her grandfather, Bernard Biro, and made her the youngest-ever recipient of B.C. Emergency Health Services含羞草研究社� Vital Link Award, presented to members of the public who are involved in saving a life through successful CPR efforts.
Dell was presented the award at a ceremony at Beban Park on Wednesday, Oct. 11. At the same ceremony, seven City of Nanaimo lifeguard staff members 含羞草研究社� Maddy Tait, Kilian Allard, Matt Coupland, Mackenzie Murgatroyd, Ethan Johnson, Nina Carroll and Keiann Nowicki 含羞草研究社� were presented with letters of commendation for successfully performing CPR and looking after family members until B.C. Ambulance Service paramedics arrived to take over during the incident.
含羞草研究社淟ucia Dell was in the pool with her grandfather playing. While playing, her grandfather went unresponsive, face down,含羞草研究社� said Alex Mattes, B.C. EHS paramedic supervisor for the central Island, in his presentation. 含羞草研究社淎t this time, Lucia tried to rouse her grandfather. When she was unable to, she notified her mother and lifeguards that something was wrong. Lucia含羞草研究社檚 mother tried to rouse him and lifeguards jumped in the water.含羞草研究社�
Biro was unresponsive and found to be in cardiac arrest when he was pulled from the water, so the lifeguards started CPR and also applied a shock from an automated external defibrillation unit. Paramedics arrived and continued CPR until they got a pulse back before rushing the patient to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Mattes also acknowledged efforts by Nanaimo Fire Rescue and 911 call-takers and dispatchers for their roles in saving Biro含羞草研究社檚 life.
Lucia含羞草研究社檚 mother, Laura Biro, said the family had only been at the pool about 10 minutes when the incident occurred.
含羞草研究社淟uci, she and Grandpa go to the pool often and to the lake, and she remembered that Grandpa told her that he never has his eyes open in the pool because it hurts his eyes,含羞草研究社� Laura said. 含羞草研究社淪he was diving and she came up and said, 含羞草研究社楽omething含羞草研究社檚 wrong with Grandpa 含羞草研究社� His eyes are open. He never has his eyes open in the pool,含羞草研究社� and that含羞草研究社檚 immediately what alerted her to know that something was wrong.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
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Bernard was also on hand to thank his granddaughter, the lifeguards and emergency responders and he hugged B.C. Ambulance paramedics Steve Sulyok and Jarrod Rousseau who revived him and rushed him to hospital.
含羞草研究社淭hank you, thank you, thank you. You guys gave me my life back,含羞草研究社� said Bernard, who explained that his doctor said he shouldn含羞草研究社檛 have survived long enough to get to the hospital. 含羞草研究社淏ut because of you guys I含羞草研究社檓 standing here right now and I cannot thank you enough for this here. Now I get more time to spend with my daughters and my grandchildren.含羞草研究社�
Bernard said he was stabilized at NRGH and then rushed to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria where he received triple-bypass surgery. He has recovered and the 70-year-old said he feels 含羞草研究社渇antastic.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚 feel like a new person,含羞草研究社� he said.
Bernard said when he returns to his home in Penticton he will have follow-up appointments to try to determine what brought on the attack.
Laura mentioned how Ethan Johnson and the other lifeguards helped comfort Lucia and her younger sister during the incident.
含羞草研究社淓than had his ukulele and he sang songs for my girls and calmed them down. So important,含羞草研究社� Laura said. 含羞草研究社淪o many different roles were so important in that whole process. Just recognizing that those girls were by themselves and needed some comfort and they were right there with them and it was amazing. I含羞草研究社檓 so happy that they got acknowledged as well.含羞草研究社�
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog congratulated all those who helped save Bernard含羞草研究社檚 life.
含羞草研究社淭oday we celebrate the impact of a very smart young woman and a fine team of people who put their skills together and, literally, gave this family someone who was in God含羞草研究社檚 waiting room and yarded him back,含羞草研究社� Krog said.
chris.bush@nanaimobulletin.com
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