Facebook post creates stir

Photo: Contributed

A post on social media has taken on a life of its own. 

A user of the Vernon and Area Community Forum on Facebook posted a story about how an employee of a 'local gas station' pulled a man who it was 'obvious he was dead and blue' out of a snow bank while others walked past, not offering any help. 

Reaction to the post was swift with many users condemning the actions of those who walked past while offering prayers to the "alleged"' dead man. 

"Wtf is our town turning into? Sad that people just walked by and did nothing to help. Not very Canadian like if you ask me. RIP to the man found. Stay strong to the people who did help!!"

"People are so wrapped up in their own lives, nobody cares anymore. It’s really sad."

"It just makes you wonder that if someone checked on him earlier if he would still be alive. Shame on whoever walked right past him."

"This is newsworthy and yet again it doesnt make the cut, swept under the rug to hide the problem in vernon. Im sorry for all involved.. what a horrible thing to witness first hand."

The post has been 'liked' 119 times, and there have been 30 comments made. 

The show of compassion and anger seems justified, however, there is no record from Monday of a man dying in the snow in Vernon, or for that matter, in the North Okanagan.

RCMP have said they did not receive a call of a dead male in the snow.

BC EHS did state that due to patient confidentiality it would not get into specifics, but a man was transported to the hospital but his condition was non-lifethreatening. 

"While unable to comment on this incident specifically it does present an opportunity to let the general public know that whenever they might suspect someone to be in medical distress, the BC Ambulance Service cannot overstate the importance of calling 911 promptly, so paramedics can arrive quickly to provide assistance as well as any life-saving measures that may be required – no matter what the situation might appear to be."

"It is also an opportunity to encourage people to enroll in CPR and First Aid Training. In the week ending February 13, 2018 the BC’s Emergency Health Services Paramedics responded to and provided treatment to 9,375 pre-hospital incidents, of these, 75 percent were transported to hospital for further assessment and treatment."

RCMP also used this event to remind the public of the Good Samaritan Act.

The law states: "A person who renders emergency medical services or aid to an ill, injured or unconscious person, at the immediate scene of an accident or emergency that has caused the illness, injury or unconsciousness, is not liable for damages for injury to or death of that person caused by the person's act or omission in rendering the medical services or aid unless that person is grossly negligent."

Castanet contacted the author of the post at 5:48 a.m. for a comment. At the time this story was published, the person has not responded to Castanet.