Editor:
On Feb. 22, I went for my daily walk with our dog companion. We live on Cougar Creekside with easy access to the presently truncated trails on Grotto Mountain. I walked beside the creek and entered the treed horseshoe trail system.
Some 300 meters along the trail, I had a sudden inhibition to my ability to keep walking upright. I retreated until I could not proceed further and sat on the trail to descend a short slope and was endeavouring to pull myself upright, using a small tree, when a fellow dog walker found me and assisted me to sit leaning against a tree. I do not know her name and have not been able to thank her. If you read this, please let me know as I am extremely grateful to you.
I called 911 since I saw no prospect of being able to walk, and the temperature was around -24 degrees Celsius. The responder in the Calgary call centre was knowledgeable about where I might be and for 45 minutes she stayed on the phone whilst my rescuers came. My dog meanwhile sat on my lap and we shivered together.
I was carried out on a stretcher by a very able group of firefighters and paramedics and was soon in the ambulance and taken to Canmore General Hospital. I was rushed into emergency where staff rapidly inserted me to a bed and started to warm me up whilst monitoring me for any issues caused by my rise in temperature.
I am extremely grateful to the whole group of friendly and concerned rescuers who ensured that my recovery process started within 90 minutes of my call. It is an astounding benefit to living in Canmore and I can only admire the quality of service I received and the skilled individuals who provided it.
Anthony Harckham,
Canmore
