2008 Award Recipients: Jeffery Skaling

It was a cold and rainy day on June 7, 2008 when New Minas RCMP responded to a report made by Mr. Jeffery Skaling. There was a person floating in the water in Lumdsden Dam, Gaspereau Valley outside Wolfville.

Mr. Skaling had been on his way to check out a site for a church function when he ran into an acquaintance and began to chat. While chatting, Mr. Skaling noticed someone floating in the water approximately 40 to 50 metres off shore.

Mr. Skaling had binoculars which he used to confirm it was in fact a person floating in the water and noticed a backpack on the shoreline. When he saw no movement from the person in the water he began calling out and honking the horn of his vehicle. With no response from the floating person, Mr. Skaling called 911, then entered the water and swam towards the unconscious female and brought her to shore where he immediately performed first aid.

The victim remained unconscious with shallow and gurgled breathing and hypothermic skin. Once help arrived on scene, the woman was transported to the Valley Regional Hospital where she survived. It was later discovered that the woman was attempting suicide.