It has been nearly a month since teenagers Oswald Felsman IV and Deion Watts put their lives on the line to save an unconscious, intoxicated 25-year-old Malcolm Swan from the Somass River.
Swan can’t remember any of the incident, but at a ceremony Tuesday to honour his rescuers he expressed his thanks.
“I was way too intoxicated,” Swan said. “I’m just really glad I got a second opportunity to have a chance to live.
“I don’t know how to explain it. The nurse over at the hospital [told me what happened]. She just told me that I’m a really lucky guy that these two young boys saved me.”
On Aug. 1, the teens jumped into the Somass River near the Stamp River when they noticed the man struggling to stay on the surface. Felsman and Watts were honoured by the Tseshaht First Nation for the act of heroism, and the community also welcomed Swan to the celebration.
The two teenagers were also invited to Ahousaht, where Swan lives, to receive thanks.
“It’s not something that happens very often,” said Felsman, 13.
“We’ve gotten plenty of thank yous from the Swan family.”
Watts said the community of Ahousaht gave them a standing ovation.
“It was really heartwarming,” said Watts, 16.
Recalling the incident, Felsman said he had seen Swan on the river all day.
“It was a long day of swimming,” Felsman said. “We were leaving pretty late. We saw the guy there the whole day, he was there just as long as us, so he must have been pretty exhausted.”
Felsman also offered advice to people who are put in the same situation.
“Don’t second guess yourself,” he said. “Just think of what’s right. Still keep in mind your safety, but don’t think that you can’t do it.”
Swan’s mother, Martha Taylor, said she asked permission for her and her son to be a part of the Tseshaht’s honouring of the two boys.
She had three sons, but has already lost two of them.
“I’m very grateful that they allowed us to [be here],” she said.
“He is the only son I have left. I admire and respect these young people as I do my son. I invited them to Ahousaht and wrapped them with gifts of appreciation.”
Port Alberni RCMP Insp. Mac Richards referred to the two teenagers as heroes.
Tseshaht chief councillor Hugh Braker also expressed his pride in them.
“There aren’t many teenagers in this world who would jump into a river to save someone’s life,” Braker said, “so I was very, very proud of these young men.
“I thought they showed maturity well beyond their years, and it caused me to think about the dangers people face and how lucky we are in our tribe to have two young people like this, who would put their own safety in danger and jump in to save another person.”
