Krista Dorothy Girvan, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
On July 17, 2008, Krista Girvan rescued a teenage girl from a possible drowning in the swift-flowing waters of the North Saskatchewan River, in Edmonton, Alberta. Ms. Girvan had been walking along the river when she heard someone screaming. She ran to find a young girl who said that her friend had been swept away by the current. After alerting others nearby to call 911, they ran along the shoreline, following the victim, but lost sight of her many times behind the trees and bushes lining the river. They shouted at her to hold on as they could hear sirens approaching in the distance, but the girl seemed to have difficulty keeping her head above the water. Ms. Girvan then jumped in and swam out to the victim who had drifted into the middle of the river. She grabbed the girl from behind and struggled against the strong current to bring her closer to shore, where firefighters had just launched a rescue boat. The exhausted rescuer and victim were pulled aboard and brought safely to shore.