The quick-thinking and rapid delivery of CPR by two citizens in separate incidents recognized. The two citizens received commendation awards from the Abbotsford Police Department for their heroic efforts in two separate events.

Rapid action to help others

Peter McGraa, 45-years old was recognized for pulling Bryan Volden, 65-years old from his partially submerged vehicle when it crashed into the Sumas River in McDonald Park. McGraa witnessed the accident and swam out to the vehicle and attempted to get inside, but the doors were locked and the windows were closed.

He made two trips back to the shoreline to find a rock to break the driver’s side rear window. McGraa pulled Volden out of the vehicle and brought him to shore and performed CPR until the arrival of the emergency crews. Sadly, Volden died 2 days later in a hospital due to heart failure which was believed to be the cause of the accident.

The other citizen who received the commendation was Dan Visser, who led police to the suspect in a brutal racial assault. Four Indo-Canadian men were sitting on a bench in the area of Old Yale Road and McConnell Creek with some friends when they were approached by a Caucasian man in his 20s.

The man yelled obscenities and derogatory ethnic comments and hit one of the men in the face with a liquor bottle, knocking him to the ground. The assailant ran off. The 63-year old victim did not require hospitalization but his face was bruised.

Visser advised officers that he had previously seen the man matching the description riding a bike and walking in the area.

Enroll in a first aid course today

The immediate delivery of the appropriate life-saving techniques can save lives. One of these life-saving skills is CPR which requires prompt delivery to improve the chances of survival.

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