A Canmorite has been recognized for his valiant actions after a life-saving moment on the Trans-Canada Highway. Liam Hawkins said he did what he thought was right for a woman involved in a single vehicle accident on Scott Lake Hill, near Morley.
A Canmorite has been recognized for his valiant actions after a life-saving moment on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Liam Hawkins said he did what he thought was right for a woman involved in a single vehicle accident on Scott Lake Hill, near Morley.
The 18-year-old received the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Citizen Recognition Award for his efforts on July 9 when he pulled a semi-conscious woman from her vehicle shortly before it burst into flames.
The woman had lost control of her vehicle and crashed in a forested area on the side of the highway, causing a minor wildfire. The blaze was controlled and extinguished by fire crews arriving on scene shortly after.
The award is distributed monthly to various citizens as a thank you for going above and beyond, whether it's placing a 911 call or performing a heroic act, such as in Hawkins' case.
When Hawkins sprang from his vehicle to get to the accident, he unselfishly ignored his own personal safety to save another.
Hawkins was travelling with this mother, Sharon, when they witnessed a vehicle ahead of them swerve out of control and disappear in the adjacent forest. The Hawkins' were the first to stop on the shoulder of the busy highway. Sharon made a 911 call as Liam ran to the unpredictable scene.
“The second I pulled over, Liam said, ‘Mom, as a first responder I have a duty to check on that person,' and he was gone out of the car,” Sharon said. Liam has his standard CPR and first aid training and certification. Despite the training, he said he had never come across anything like this situation before.
Liam had to search a bit to find the vehicle in the dense bush, but soon the potent smell of gasoline hit him and he saw twisted metal and flames burning at the front end of the vehicle.
He determined the lone occupant was injured and unable to save herself and made the decision to pull her from the wreck.
“When I found it, I started shouting at the (unresponsive) woman who was in the car,” said Liam, adding she came to during the commotion. “I undid her seatbelt and pulled her out through the window with her help because the car door would not open. I had to carry her over 100 feet away ‘cause of the fire.”
Within four or five minutes the car was “fully engulfed,” said Liam.
Sharon, still on the phone with emergency services, began to see thick dark smoke in her rearview mirror coming from the wreck. She was worried for Liam and called out in the forest and was relieved to hear his response.
“He said they were ‘OK.' Liam's a really smart kid and I knew in my heart he was behaving in a smart way,” she said.
Adam Loria, EMS spokesperson, said the victim, also from Canmore, suffered non-life threatening injuries, but the scene could have turned tragic if Liam hadn't jumped to action.
“Liam's quick thinking saved her life,” said Loria.
The next day, the Hawkins' said the woman and members of the family phoned and thanked them.
Liam received the award on Saturday (July 18) at Canmore Hospital among EMT personnel and his parents. His father, Dr. Mark Hawkins, is a doctor at the hospital.
