Wildwood Youth Receives Award for Bravery

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

CRD Area 'D' Director Steve Forseth (left),
Josef Aschwaden, Debbie Aschwaden,
CRD Chair Al Richmond (all middle) and
Wildwood Fire Chair Randy Worsley (right) 

Yesterday, during the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Board of Directors meeting, Josef Aschwanden, aged nine from Wildwood, was presented with a certificate of bravery for his heroic actions which saved the life of his mother. The presentation was made by CRD Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) Chief Randy Worsley, Electoral Area D Director Steve Forseth and CRD Chair Al Richmond.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016, a 9-1-1 call was received at the Fire Operations Control Centre requesting help for a woman trapped under an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and was suffering from shortness of breath. The address was in the Cariboo Regional District’s (CRD) Wildwood Volunteer fire department boundaries, who responded immediately.

When they arrived on scene a nine year old boy was waving them down to help his mother. The woman had been unloading the ATV from her truck when the machine slipped back and landed on her. Her son knew what to do and called 9-1-1 immediately for help. He told them what happened, where they were (an address with directions) and the condition of his mother. Josef also wrapped his mother in a sleeping bag while she was trapped under the ATV to help keep her warm and stop hypothermia from setting in.

The Wildwood Volunteer VFD members, with the help of BC Ambulance Service were able to free the woman and she was then safely transported to hospital. The young man gathered up his mother’s belongings and travelled with her to hospital.  

“A conversation a few days earlier between the young man and his mother about what 9-1-1 and how to use it in an emergency, is certainly credited with making the outcome of this accident a positive one,” says CRD Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Randy Worsley.

“Congratulations to Josef for learning about what to do in an emergency and being able to implement what he had learned from his parents about 9-1-1,” stated CRD Electoral Area D Director Steve Forseth. “This is a great example of how important it is for children of all ages, and families to learn about 9-1-1, and know how to use the system in any emergency situation.”