Paradise, CBS, Mount Pearl lifesavers recognized at Government House

By Mark Squibb/September 2, 2021

St. John Ambulance presented 18 residents awards for their heroic and life-saving actions at an awards ceremony at Government House on August 26.

Matthew Beck of Mount Pearl was one such awardee. Beck was attending a barbeque at a friend’s home in Conception Bay South in July of 2018. One of the guests began chocking, and Beck was able to fit his arms around the man and properly perform the Heimlich maneuver, dislodging the food from the man’s throat.

Ashlee Babb of Paradise was another award winner. In July of 2018, Babb and her father were out gardening and discussing summer plans when her father became unresponsive and fell to the ground. Ashlee called to her mother to call an ambulance and rushed to her father’s side to perform CPR. Next door neighbours Charles and Lisa Hann came over to assist with CPR. Lisa was 39 weeks pregnant at the time. Five minutes later, another neighbour, Elwood White, joined the effort, assisting with chest compressions. When paramedics arrived a few minutes later, they used an AED, and eventually were able to get a pulse. Both Babb and White were on hand to receive their awards, although the Hanns were unable to attend the ceremony.

Cora Doran and Crystal Lynn Power were also on hand to receive awards. The women helped a motorcyclist who had been struck by a car on Ruth Avenue in Mount Pearl back in June of 2019. The man’s leg had been severely twisted and there was a large pool of blood on the ground. The women called 911, and then removed the man’s belt without moving him and used the belt to apply pressure above the break to help control the bleeding. When paramedics arrived, he was rushed to the operating room where his left leg was amputated below the knee.

St. John Ambulance Life-saving Awards Program have been awarded for over 30 years.