It will be 50 years ago this year (2023) that Ron Seaman and brother Thead rescued a man from drowning, but to listen to Ron, it seems like yesterday.
“It was October 6, 1998. Thead and I and Alex Thornburn were just finishing up a construction project in Sauble Beach and were collecting our tools, when a woman came running on to the site screaming ‘help, help my husband is in the water!’. There was a strong east wind and Thead and I dropped everything and began to run toward the lake. We saw a child’s flotation device and an old canoe on the beach. We flipped it over and found, an old lifejacket, one paddle and a broken oar under it.
Thead and I were raised on the Lake and with canoes so Thead got in the rear and I got in the front and struggling against the wind and choppy water we headed out with the paddle and broken oar. We approached the man with caution as we didn’t want him grabbing the canoe and tipping us into the water along with him. We threw the flotation device but the wind easily took it and blew it away. I then threw the old heavy type of life jacket and the man got to it and reached the canoe, holding on to the side as Thead and I paddled for all we worth against the wind. Every time, the man let go because of the cold, I would drop the broken oar and reached out to grab his wrist. All the while, the wind was pushing us toward the rocky shore.
Alex and the owner of the home we had been working on, were on shore and we yelled to them to call 911, but with the wind they couldn’t hear what we were saying. They finally made it out and did call. Now paddling with one paddle and broken oar, at one point, the man said, “that’s it, that’s all I’ve got” but I again reached out and dragged him with us as Thead kept paddling. We landed on a rocky point and Alex and the owner waded out into the water to help us and we brought him ashore as paramedics arrived and took control. By this time, the man was semi-conscious and had been throwing up but the biggest problem was he was so cold. The paramedics immediately put him on a cardiac monitor, started the warming process and headed for Southampton hospital.
I guess we were just there in the right place at the right time.”
Although Thead Seaman, a volunteer firefighter at the time, stopped in to the hospital to check on the man, they never did learn his name – all they knew was that he came from Mississauga.
Southampton’s Mayor at the time, Art Eby, recommended the two brothers for a commendation from the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee. Decorations for Bravery were begun in 1972 to recognize those who have taken action to save or protect the life of another and shown conspicuous courage in the face of peril. In 1993, then Governor-General Ray Hnatyshyn, officially established the Commendation for Bravery award that consisted of a letter and signed certificate by the Governor-General.
“After we were recommended for the commendation, the RCMP came and interviewed each of us in depth,” says Ron Seaman. “I guest they wanted to ensure that the whole incident was legitimate.”
One year later, in November 1999, each of the brothers was presented with a signed certificate from then Mayors Art Eby (Southampton) and Mark Kraemer (Port Elgin), on behalf of then Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson.
Fifty years later, on June 29th of this year, 2023, Ron Seaman received a special package delivered by Canada Post courier. In it was a Governor General’s special insignia pin and letter from Governor General, Mary Simon, marking the 50th Anniversary of the Decoration for Bravery program.
The new pin has been created to recognize past and future recipients of the Governor General’s Commendation. The letter says “… it (the pin) recognizes the significance of your actions and expresses the gratitude of our country.” The pin measures 30 x 10 mm and consists of three-dimensional sculpted leaves in silver.
“I was completely surprised and taken aback,” says Seaman. “I only wish Thead was still here to receive his.” Thead Seaman passed away on February 11th of this year 2023.
