MANITOULIN—Three Providence Bay residents were presented with Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner’s Lifesaving Citation for Lifesaving awards for the actions they took when a 76-year-old man, an acquaintance of the three, was seriously injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident on May 6. As well, four Manitoulin OPP civilian staff and police officers were recognized with long service awards.
Michael Niven, of Providence Bay, and two friends from Sudbury, Carter Nadorozny and Brendon Fenton (who are summer residents in Providence Bay, were involved in the life saving attempt.
Mr. Niven told the Recorder on Monday evening, “Carter and I were with Hoey (McDermid) out four wheeling on the beach (in Providence Bay) when Hoey came up to a creek, tried to stop and the ATV went over on him. I don’t remember everything, but the tires on his vehicle dug in and the machine went over on him.”
“After the accident occurred Carter stayed with him (Mr. McDermid) reattaching his oxygen ventilator hose while I went to get help at Carter’s cottage to and his family came out to help,” said Mr. Niven. “Carter’s sister’s boyfriend Brendon (Fenton) performed CPR while I went to call 911 and get additional help. They weren’t related but Hoey was a good friend of Carter’s family, he was like a grandfather to Carter,” said Mr. Niven.
OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis, in presenting the awards to the three young men, explained that at the scene of the accident, “while trying to ascertain the man’s consciousness, Mr. Nadorozny realized the ventilator hose had become dislodged and re-attached it. He then attempted several times to administer an aerosol inhaler to help the man’s breathing until finally the senior citizen managed to obtain a couple of breaths’.”
“Even though the youth held him and kept talking to him to try and prevent him for losing consciousness, the older man collapsed a short time later,” said Mr. Lewis. “Soon afterwards, Mr. Niven returned with Mr. Fenton, the first of many local residents responding to the request for help.” “As Mr. Fenton initiated CPR, Mr. Niven left again, this time to call 9-1-1 and wait for the ambulance to arrive and guide it to the scene,” he continued.
“The senior citizen was subsequently transported to hospital, but sadly, despite the continuation of resuscitation efforts en route, he could not be revived,” continued Mr. Lewis. “Although he did not survive, this in no way diminishes the efforts of Mr. Fenton, Mr. Niven and Mr. Nadorozny to provide the older many with his best chance of survival possible and we honour them today for their respective responses to this incident.”
Mr. Nadorozny and Mr. Fenton also received St. John’s Certificate-Meritorious awards.
Other citations presented by the OPP on Tuesday were to Constable Martin Bain and Sergeant Stephen Hart, who were both presented with 25 year service awards.
Carole McCabe, secretary of the Gore Bay OPP detachment, received a 25 year service award, while Eileen Pearson (civilian caretaker) received a 20 year civilian service plaque as did Tammy George (a civilian office administrator).
