Not every civilian can say they'd run into a drainage ditch to help get someone out of an overturned submerged car, but a Wallaceburg man was honoured in Chatham-Kent Tuesday for being brave enough to do exactly that.
On April 20, CK police responded to a call regarding a collision on Border Rd in the Swan Line area. A car went off the road and into a drainage ditch, where it landed upside down.
Dylan Depooter was the one who made the call and proceeded to try and help the occupants of the car escape when constables Ken Muir, Chris Robb and Jodie Foster arrived.
Depooter and the officers were able to get a passenger out of the front of the car by cutting his seatbelt and pulling him out of his seat.
According to police, once the man was brought out of the ditch, he informed officers there was a woman in the driver's seat. Depooter reportedly rushed back into the ditch, opened the driver's side door and located the female.
Depooter and the officers were able to remove her, but unfortunately, she had no vital signs at the time and would eventually succumb to her injuries in the hospital.
Police said the passenger was treated for severe hypothermia and released several hours later.
As a result of their extraordinary efforts, Police Chief Gary Conn recommended the three constables and Depooter receive a citation from the Police Service Board.
Depooter was joined by his mother and girlfriend at Tuesday's Police Services Board Meeting and was presented with the award by Conn.
