A woman who grew up on Texada Island has been awarded with a medal of bravery.
Carly Nikirk, 20, was one of several Canadians to receive the decoration of bravery from Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Thursday, April 24. Her mother, grandmother and boyfriend attended the ceremony.
“We’re extremely proud of what she did,” said her father Doug. “It was very brave.”
Her mother Glenda said that she could not help but feel proud for her daughter as she watched her receive the medal. “One of the things that I’ve always felt strongly about is her learning how to swim,” she added.
Carly was working as a cashier at Shelter Point Park Concession on Texada on July 6, 2011, when she saw a woman who was in distress in the water. Carly left the concession and saved her from drowning.
After the incident, Carly learned that the woman had gone into the water to help her dog and was struggling to return to shore. The woman was overwhelmed by strong wind and waves, according to a press release shortly after the incident.
Carly, who now lives in Calgary and works as a lifeguard, harnessed her skills and first-aid training and jumped into the water fully clothed. She pulled the woman to a nearby buoy where they held on until a small boat arrived to pull them to safety. She attended to the woman until paramedics arrived, the press release stated.
Glenda said her daughter was already on the road to becoming a lifeguard, but the experience helped push her even more in that direction.
“She’s very calm and a fast thinker in crisis situations,” she said, adding that her daughter received 100 per cent on her standard industrial first aid practicum.
Glenda said that there is an extensive vetting process that takes a few years to complete in order to be honoured with a national award for bravery.
“She’s a pretty confident young woman,” she said. “I think this validates for her that we live not only for ourselves but those around us.”
Carly is starting nursing school in the fall at Bow Valley College, her mother said.
Carly was awarded the BC bravery award in 2012.
