“RESOURCEFUL” STUDENT HIKERS RECEIVE COMMUNITY LEADER AWARDS

Provincial Park earlier this month.

On Oct. 11, two men were hiking along the Lower Falls Trail when they became trapped in a pool — dangerously close to being swept into the rushing waters nearby. Before long, the men were spotted by one of the students.

With no cell service nearby, the group of friends sprung into action. They quickly removed their jackets and turbans, tying them together to create a 10-meter rope. Using a tree trunk as support, the group were able to rescue the trapped hikers — all before the search and rescue team could arrive on scene. Video of the rescue quickly grew viral online.

“I’d never heard anything like that or seen anybody doing anything like that,” stated search manager Rick Laing. “I thought it was quite resourceful – they showed great presence of mind to put something together in such a short time.”

At the Oct. 26 ceremony, Ridge Meadows RCMP Supt. Wendy Mehat praised the quick actions of the five students. “The two young men were in danger of drowning,” he said. “Your quick thinking and your heroic actions undoubtedly saved the lives of the two young men at Golden Ears Park.”

At the award ceremony, CapU student Gurpreet Singh recounted that day. “We saw those guys, they were struggling to get out. He was so cold down there — his hands were numb, I think.”

At the ceremony, Supt. Mehat also recalled the religious importance of the turban, which are typically only allowed to be removed in privacy at home. “In these matters we really don’t care if it’s religious or not. It’s one person's life, we can save it,” said Singh. "We can tie [a turban] again as many times as we want, but that life — we can’t bring it back.”