HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-09-21, Page 13Photo courtesy of Emsie Williams
Members of the public pull a man out of the water at the Grand Bend beach on Aug. 31. The man and a woman were saved by bystanders
after they became overwhelmed by the rough waters and called out for help.
Goderich residents have a message
after witnessing rescue in Grand Bend
Laura Broadley
Postmedia Network
William and Emsie Williams
wanted a good dinner and walk on
the beach one evening a few weeks
ago. They made the decision to travel
to Grand Bend instead of their usual
walk along Goderich's coast.
The Williams were just finishing
dinner by the beach around 7:30 p.m.
when they noticed an SUV with two
jet skis attached attempt to get close
to the beach. The group of three peo-
ple; an older man, a younger man and
a younger woman, eventually gave up
trying to get the jet skis close enough
to the water.
William and Emsie were confused,
and asked themselves why the group
was attempting the go in the water
when the waves were so rough. So
rough, in fact, that no one was on the
pier as usual at that time because the
waves were splashing over the pier
constantly.
The woman decided to go into the
water to have a swim, close enough
the shore that she probably wouldn't
get in too much trouble. The younger
man joined her, and then quickly
swam out further before the woman
joined him.
It wasn't five minutes later when
the Williams heard, "bone -chilling
screams." The swimmers had been
pulled between the north and south
piers and were struggling to stay
above water.
It was then that the Williams wit-
nessed something they said they
wouldn't soon forget; about six peo-
ple ran to the swimmers' aid. Six
strangers dropped what they were
doing to help people in need.
Someone grabbed a life preserver
ring that was on the pier and threw it
out to the struggling couple. The res-
cuers were able to pull the man to
safety, and pulled the woman to
safety soon after.
Within five minutes of hearing the
calls for help, the couple was safe.
By the time paramedics arrived, the
couple was already out of the water.
"People responded quickly
instead of wondering what to do, or
where to go," William said.
"I think that saved their lives," he
added.
Emsie said she was so fearful for
the couple's lives, and was thinking
to herself at the time that she was
about the witness two people
drown.
Everything went so fast," she said.
But thanks to the quick -thinking
and courageous bystanders, the cou-
ple's family won't be without their
son and daughter.
The rescue inspired the Williams.
With everything negative going on in
the world right now, they were
reminded that there are people in this
world willing to help others in times
of great need. They wanted to share
that message with the community.
William and Emsie said they also
want to encourage people to use their
better judgment when water condi-
tions are not appropriate for
swimming.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 • News Record 13
From Furrows to
the Front Lines
CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 12
During a dedication cere-
mony on Sept. 22, 550 beauti-
ful ceramic poppies repre-
senting Huron's war dead will
be installed around the ceno-
taph in Goderich, followed by
a reception for the more than
100 volunteers who created
the memorable mementoes
under the mentorship of artist
Ruth Anne Memer.
The project was inspired by
a remembrance ceremony in
2014 in England in which
888,246 poppies representing
England's military war dead
filled the Tower of London
moat. The Huron poppies will
be distributed Nov 3 to each
of Huron's Royal Canadian
Legions to honour those
whose name are engraved on
individual cenotaphs.
If you go:
A Victory Parade will march along the original route in
Goderich to the railway station at 2.00 p.m. on Oct. 8, fol-
lowed by a Descendants' Dinner duplicating the origi-
nal menu at 6:30 p.m. at the Goderich Legion. The seating
capacity 161.
A church service at Trivitt on Oct. 30 replicating the original
program will focus on the Regimental Colours.
Displays and documentaries at the Huron County Museum,
including a film on nursing sisters and speakers visiting
the high schools are among the planned event.
To Commemorate. To Remember. To Give Thanks.
Keep your
funny -bone
in shape!
Sharing a
Laughing has proven stress -release and Healthier 4111111r
health benefits. Funny how that works, eh? Future"
Oil .0
PaRT/GPa[TICn ®
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