2016 river rescue leads to Bravery Awards for local residents

Angela says a nomination was submitted to the Governor General’s office to recognize Marshall for his bravery, and she wrote a letter in support of the nomination (Marshall was recognized by City Council in October 2016). Last December, she received a call from the Governor General’s office, who told her that they also decided to honour her with a medal as well.

“I didn’t expect it at all,” she said. “I was focused on getting the recognition for the people involved that day, and never myself expected to receive an honour of this magnitude.”

On June 5, 2016, Angela’s twin sons Alex and Ben, then eight years old, were playing near the South Saskatchewan River by Police Point Park with friends.

“I had just joined them at the river, and just when I had joined them, my friend had stepped up onto the shore to wave at me, and the boys were wading in the water,” Irvine recalled. “Just as I had shouted out to get out of the water because it wasn’t safe, my one son Alex stepped off a drop-off in a water and got swept away.”

Angela says Ben reached out to try and grab Alex, but got swept into the river as well. It was at that point Angela entered the water to save her sons, telling them to get on their backs and keep their heads above water.

“I swam as fast as I could, but I couldn’t close the gap, and began yelling for help to the people ahead on the shore,” she said.

Angela says Mike Hallis and Boyd Herter were also involved in the rescue, swimming out to meet her and Ben, who had ended up in a slower part of the river, and helping them get towards the shore. Alex, however, ended up in a faster current.

Marshall and his family were fishing along the river at Strathcona Island Park and witnessed Angela swimming towards her children and heard the cries for help. He entered the water to rescue Alex.

“Cole had amazingly made it across the river, had grabbed Alex at that point in time, but Alex started to pull him under, so Cole had to, sadly, let go of Alex, but was able to get into shore and reach out to Alex with a fallen tree and pull him into short,” she said.

Angela remains thankful that Marshall and everyone involved who helped rescue her sons.

“They’re the reasons that I get to tuck my sons in at night, every night,” she said. “They’re the reasons I get to watch them pull all of the shenanigans that 11-year-old boys pull. Because of them, our family remains complete, and there’s nothing I can do to show our gratitude enough.”

Angela says she and Marshall have stayed in contact since the incident in the river, noting their children are friends.

by Charles Lefebvre

2016 river rescue leads to Bravery Awards for local residents

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