Training soldier saves crash victim

Sherwood Park soldier Chris MacEachern and two others spring into action after witnessing van roll in Manitoba

Posted By Michael Di Massa News Staff

Posted 21 days ago

Military Pte. Chris MacEachern was assisted by friend, Pte. David Watts, and trainer Ken Wilson in their efforts to save the life of a stranger after watching his vehicle roll off a Manitoba highway.

Sherwood Park resident Pte. Chris MacEachern was on his way to a military training exercise with Pte. David Watts and trainer Ken Wilson in September when the three men were forced to jump into action after witnessing a single-vehicle rollover.

"I was shocked. I couldn't believe I was seeing it," MacEachern said of the van rolling off the road two kilometres ahead of them on a highway just outside of Neepawa, Man. "It was flipping so fast."

The three men pulled up alongside the van and MacEachern and Watts rushed to the driver who had been thrown from the vehicle while Wilson dialled 911.

"He was unresponsive and he was thrown maybe about 10 to 15 metres away from his van. Completely unresponsive, not breathing," MacEachern recalled.

The soldiers began administering first aid with Watts holding the driver's head and MacEachern conducting CPR. After four sets of CPR, the driver began gurgling and started convulsing in epileptic shock.

When the driver recovered, cloth from their military uniforms were used to bandage gashes on the driver until emergency crews arrived on scene.

Although that incident was a month and a half ago, MacEachern said he's been told the driver has been taken off life support, but remains on a respirator in a Winnipeg hospital. He said he hasn't had any contact with the driver's family, but hopes to.

MacEachern moved from Sherwood Park when he joined the military in August 2008. "I wouldn't say that I was bored … I wanted a job where I'd wake up every morning and I'd be pushing myself," he said.

He first trained in basic military qualifications in Eastern Canada before being stationed in Manitoba. About 10 days before the crash MacEachern had undergone a first aid refresher course.

Even without the refresher, the training "still would have been in my mind, but personally, I don't think it would have been as direct and immediate," he said of the first aid, adding, "It would've all come to me once I started it."

While in Manitoba, MacEachern is training in the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry in preparation for a security role for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Following that, he'll return for training in anticipation of a six-month tour in Afghanistan in 2011.

mdimassa@sherwoodparknews.com