Kelowna News

It's a 19th birthday Tyler Lockerby will never forget.

Lockerby and his pal Matt Jackson rescued four elderly Calgary residents from a submerged vehicle in Griffin Lake near Three Valley Gap Monday afternoon.

The two were heading to Revelstoke to overhaul the arena's compressor when Jackson says the Dodge minivan carrying the four Calgary residents swerved, hit a median and went down a steep embankment before coming to rest in about 10 metres of water.

Contacted by Castanet Tuesday morning, Jackson says the pair of lifelong friends didn't hesitate.

"We just looked at each other and Ty slammed on the brakes, pulled to the side and we jumped out," says Jackson.

"I dove in first and Ty came right behind me. I grabbed someone's arm, pulled them out, passed them to Ty who swam to the side of the embankment."

Jackson says they continued to do that until three of the four people were safely ashore.

"At first we only had three out. They said there was another inside so we had to swim down and get her out. We had her on the top of the van before we were able to swim her to shore."

He says the first three people were rescued through the driver's side window while the fourth was pulled through the front windshield.

Jackson says one of the ladies appeared to have a broken arm while the man they pulled out had some trouble breathing.

"They were all gashed up pretty good and there was a lot of blood, oil and gas in the water. It was pretty crazy."

The pair are being lauded as heroes after risking their own lives to save the man and three women.

"That's what they are saying I guess. I don't really feel that way. We were at the right place at the right time."

Asked if he'd do it again, "If it was called upon, I'd do it again," says Jackson, who ironically had aspirations of becoming a firefighter.

This type of thing is nothing new for Lockerby.

Two years ago, Lockerby and his father Norman rescued two snowmobilers on the back side of Big White.

"We were out snowmobiling on the back side of the hill. We found him and his buddy both unconscious," says Norman Lockerby.

"One of them had a head injury and he almost died in hospital."

"I'm really proud of him," Lockerby added.