A Nanaimo teen is being heralded as an honorary first responder and a future community leader, but most of all he’s basking in the gratitude of his grandfather whose life he saved in January.
Dylan Waite, a Nanaimo Christian School student and a petty officer second class with 136 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Amphion, was with his grandparents in January when he heard a bang in the basement. He ran downstairs and found his grandfather on the floor unconscious and not breathing. Waite told his grandmother to call 911 and then started CPR on the unconscious man.
Waite performed CPR on his grandfather until paramedics arrived and then continued to assist emergency crews afterward.
“When I went down there he was just lying there and I just snapped and went in there,” Waite said.
Waite learned his standard first aid and CPR skills while training with the sea cadets. He was presented with a certificate of commendation by his cadet unit commanding officer Lieut. Sandy Dudley and was handed a Nanaimo Fire Rescue uniform cap by Craig Richardson, chief of Nanaimo Fire Rescue, during a presentation ceremony at his school Wednesday.
The guest speakers at the event included Mayor Bill McKay and representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and Yukon. Richardson recited the report made to him by firefighters who attended the scene who said Waite demonstrated composure and compassion.
“The CPR that you learned at cadets is absolutely a credit to saving your grandfather’s life and I feel today as though you are a fellow first responder,” Richardson said.
“It’s remarkable to think that a 15 year-old-boy would respond so incredibly well with a loved one – a true test of his character. I’m very proud of him,” said James Sijpheer, Nanaimo Christian School principal.
Waite said he wants to join the Canadian Armed Forces after he graduates.
