DAWSON CREEK, B.C. - Quick-thinking children, a visiting mother, and a retired police chief are being credited with helping save the lives of a mother and her two young children after a near-drowning incident at a Dawson Creek hotel pool last week.
The incident happened last Thursday evening at the Stonebridge Hotel in Dawson Creek.
Kim Matthews of Grande Prairie was staying at the hotel with her son, Tripp and his friend, Kaiden Lang, after spending the day at the Dawson Creek Exhibition and Stampede.
Around 8 p.m., the boys were swimming when they noticed something was wrong in the pool.
“Tripp and Kaiden were trying to lift a baby out of the pool using the pool ladder,” Matthews said. “The baby appeared completely lifeless.”
Heroes Jump Into Action
Matthews said she immediately ran to help and looked into the water, where she saw a woman and a young girl face down at the bottom of the pool.
“I started screaming for help,” she said. “I told Tripp to run to the front desk and tell them to call 911.”
Matthews said she dove to the bottom of the pool and brought both the woman and the child to the surface while other bystanders assisted with both children.
“I remember praying and pleading to God to help me,” said Matthews.
She then began CPR on the woman, Matthew’s identified as Mallory, who she described as being blue and purple in colour when she was pulled from the water.
Matthews was in disbelief as the events unfolded. “I thought I was in a nightmare. I remember looking down at Mallory and saying come back to us, your babies need you.”
Retired RCMP Officer Assists Rescue
The former head of the Dawson Creek RCMP detachment, Damon Werrell, was also staying at the hotel and rushed to the pool after hearing the commotion.
Matthews said the pair worked together performing CPR for several minutes.
“At that time, Mallory was blue from head to toe. She was not breathing and had only a very faint heartbeat,” Matthews said. “After approximately five minutes, Mallory regained a strong heartbeat and started breathing on her own.”
According to information relayed to the rescuers by RCMP, the woman had reportedly suffered a seizure in the pool and unintentionally pulled both of her children underwater.
Matthews said she was told the mother and daughter may have been submerged for more than three minutes before they were rescued.
The mother was airlifted to Grande Prairie Regional Hospital in an induced coma and admitted to intensive care. Her five-year-old daughter, Evangeline, and 18-month-old son, Reginold, also survived.
“God let her live, I didn’t know if she was going to live at that point or not. I was just praying that she would survive the night,” said Matthews.
Emotional Reunion in Hospital
In the days following the incident, Matthews travelled home to Grande Prairie and visited the family in hospital.
“When I walked into the room, Mallory was sitting up,” she recalled. “I introduced myself, and her husband explained to her who I was and what had happened. Mallory looked at me, whispered, ‘Thank you,’ and then asked if she could hug me.”
“I hugged her, and honestly, it was one of the most healing and peaceful experiences I have ever had.”
Matthews said seeing the children recovering and acting like normal kids was emotional after witnessing the ordeal just a day earlier.
Matthews said, “I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, I could sleep that night, I felt whole.”
Young Heroes Recognized
Matthews also praised the actions of her son and his friend, saying they were the first to recognize that someone was in distress.
Matthews said RCMP later told her that Tripp had done exactly the right thing and was a hero.
“He is only a child, and I think that is his way of processing what he witnessed,” she said, recalling how her son later described seeing “a mommy sleeping in the water” and said his body turned into a “Sea-Doo” so he could get to the baby.
By the weekend, Matthews said the family had received encouraging news.
“After everything this family has been through, Mallory and both of her children have been given a good bill of health,” she said.
Reflecting on the incident, Matthews said the rescue was the result of many people acting quickly in a critical moment.
“I believe this is a story about tragedy, courage, quick thinking, and ultimately, a miracle,” she said. “Two little boys noticed something was wrong. I was able to get into the pool and begin the rescue. Damon arrived and helped perform CPR. First responders arrived quickly. And, most importantly, Mallory and both of her children survived.”
Medical Expenses Mounting
A fundraiser has also been launched to help the family cope with mounting expenses, as they navigate the aftermath of the incident. According to organizers, Mallory is a U.S. citizens who is receiving emergency medical care in Canada, where medical costs are expected to exceed $100,000.
The GoFundMe fundraiser notes that her husband Jackson is recently out of school and that neither he nor Mallory currently have an income, adding that supporters hope to give the family time to focus on recovery and caring for their children without the added stress of overwhelming medical bills.