Three days after he nearly drowned off of Osoyoos Lake Regional Park, Bardomiano Hernandez (right) had the opportunity to say thank you to one of his rescuers, David Ehrhardt of Burnaby. Photo by Paul Everest - Click on picture for larger image
OSOYOOS TIMES-June 30, 2010
By Paul Everest – Osoyoos Times
Having been plucked from the grip of death, Bardomiano Hernandez is looking at what he calls a “second chance at life.”
The 39-year-old man from Mexico’s Puebla state has been working at an orchard on 16th Avenue since April on a seven-month contract.
On June 21, he and three friends decided to cool off after a day of work by taking a swim off of Osoyoos Lake Regional Park near the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and 16th Avenue.
At about 6 p.m., Hernandez, who admits he is not a strong swimmer but had gone into the water off the park before, ventured into deep water about 45 metres from shore.
He said he tried to put his feet down but couldn’t and the next thing he knew he was struggling to keep his head above the water.
After that, Hernandez said he doesn’t remember very much until he opened his eyes on the beach of the Brookvale Holiday Resort to see the supervisor from the orchard where he works, his three friends and a trio of heroes who saved his life.
Those heroes include Melanie Sullivan from Osoyoos who heard Hernandez’s friends calling for help while she was reading at the park.
She swam out to Hernandez, grabbed him and began calling for someone to dial 911.
David Ehrhardt of Burnaby heard the commotion from his campsite at the resort and jumped into his boat.
He pulled Hernandez and Sullivan into the boat and made for the shore.
Matthew Smith, a Calgary firefighter and former B.C. ambulance paramedic vacationing at the resort, revived Hernandez on the beach.
Hernandez was later taken to Oliver’s South Okanagan General Hospital and was released the same evening.
He said his rescuers are “great people” who have provided him with a “great opportunity for change.”
He added that he intends to use this second chance at life to become a “better person.”
A wife and three children are waiting for him back in Mexico, but Hernandez, who also worked in Osoyoos last summer, said on June 24 that he had not yet told his family about his near-drowning experience.
Staff Sgt. Kurt Lozinski, commander of the Osoyoos-Oliver RCMP, said police are looking at presenting Sullivan, Ehrhardt and Smith with some kind of formal recognition in the near future for saving Hernandez’ life.
When Hernandez returned to the scene of his rescue three days after the incident, he ran into Ehrhardt and his family.
“It’s a good surprise seeing you here,” Ehrhardt told Hernandez. “We’re glad you’re still around.
“I’m so very happy for him.”
Hernandez said his brush with death will make him take greater care when going in the water, but he said he would still return to the lake to take a swim after a long day’s work.
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