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Kelowna Mountie recognized for second life-saving rescue in Okanagan Lake
KELOWNA, B.C. – An RCMP officer in Kelowna, B.C., is being recognized for helping save the life of a woman who made a nearly fatal, late-night leap into Okanagan Lake.
Supt. Nick Romanchuk says Cpl. Matt Hare displayed exceptional bravery in risking his own life to save the 21-year-old woman.
Police say she was intoxicated when she jumped into the chilly waters last Wednesday and Hare watched as she ignored flotation devices tossed by officers on the bridge and instead began to swim away.
As her strokes became increasingly laboured in the cold water, Hare took off his gear and swam to the woman and pulled her back to shore where both were treated for hypothermia.
Hare said afterward that if he hadn’t gone in, the situation would have become a recovery mission.
Hare is no stranger to watery rescues, having jumped into the same lake in September to retrieve an intoxicated swimmer. (CKQQ, CKFR)
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