As a grandparent, Milton Conacher naturally thinks the world of his grandson, Clark. Thanks to a selfless act of bravery by Clark last fall, he also owes him his life. Canadian Red Cross officials were in Turtleford on June 21, 2007, to present a Canadian Red Cross First Aid and Water Safety Services Rescuer Award to Clark Conacher.

On November 3, 2006, 17 year old Clark Conacher was on his family’s farm near Mervin, helping his grandpa near the dugout. Mr. Conacher was reaching out across the ice to get a hold of a pump when the ice broke and he fell, headfirst, into the water. Dressed for the cold weather in heavy winter clothes and boots, Mr. Conacher went under the water and knew that he was in very serious trouble.

Clark was on the other side of the dugout and saw his grandpa fall in. He raced around the dugout, went straight into icy water that was more than ten feet deep, and called out so his grandpa knew he was there. He grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him to safety. The water was cold and deep, and Mr. Conacher says he didn’t think he could hold his breath for another few seconds.

By reacting quickly and bravely, Clark saved his grandfather that day, though he is modest about his efforts. When asked what it meant to him to see his grandson receive the Rescuer Award, Milton Conacher said, quite simply, “It means everything to me. The impulse of his movements and the distance he had to travel [to get to me]. . . He put his life in as much danger as I was in.” Four generations of the Conacher family were on hand to see Clark receive his Rescuer Award at Turtleford School where the crowd gave him a well deserved standing ovation.

“Every year, 400 Canadians drown, many of them after falling through ice into cold water,” said Jen Pederson, Public Affairs Coordinator for Canadian Red Cross North/Central Saskatchewan Region. “Red Cross works with people across the country to train them how to minimize their risk of injury, and to teach them skills so they know how to react in an emergency. Rescuer Awards are presented to individuals who go out of their way to save a life, prevent further injury, and/or provide comfort to the injured. We are very pleased to be able to recognize Clark’s efforts.”