A St. John’s man is being commended for his actions in helping to save the life of a woman following an unusual incident in Sweet Bay over the weekend.

Bonavista MHA Craig Pardy says Willis and Doris Coles of Sweet Bay left their home with their young grandson to launch their boat at the local slipway. According to Pardy, while the truck was on the slipway, the wedges under the wheels slipped, and the truck with Doris and her grandchild still inside began backing into the water.

As the truck was moving backward, Doris managed to safely pass her grandchild through the window to Willis who was standing in chest-high water. She then jumped out of the truck before it went under.

According to Pardy, that’s when Nathan Snow of St. John’s arrived on the scene with his truck. While the child was being attended on shore, Snow—a member of the Long Harbour Emergency Response Team—noticed Doris Coles just barely visible in the water.

He reached the unresponsive Coles and brought her to shore, where she recovered. Pardy is commending Snow for his bravery and quick thinking in averting a possible tragedy.