A dramatic story from the New Brunswick floods

Photo courtesy of the Government of New Brunswick

While volunteers in Ontario have been busy responding to multiple disasters this past week, in the Maritimes Red Cross volunteers have been also busy responding to floods affecting several communities in New Brunswick.

My colleagues Janice Babineau and Dan Bedell from Atlantic Zone shared this story with me and I thought you would enjoy hearing it as well.

Late Tuesday, there was a dramatic rescue in the rural community of Bonny River in southwest New Brunswick, not far from the local fire hall being used as a Red Cross shelter for residents evacuated from their homes because of the floods.

Jennifer Sharkey, the daughter of a Red Cross volunteer managing the shelter, was outside and noticed a car’s headlights suddenly disappear in the distance. Realizing something was wrong, she alerted others who headed down the highway with her to investigate. What they found was a young couple on top of their sinking car in the swollen Magaguadavic River.

Local residents launched a boat and pulled the two motorists to safety. Once back on land they were checked by Jennifer who is a paramedic.

Awesome work Jennifer!