Never Too Old...?

Someone who has always taken charge, had confidence in his ability to meet challenges, will continue to react to circumstances in an impulsive manner certain that his action is required to resolve difficulties. Even when he has reached the category of 'elderly'. Which someone of the age of 67 most certainly is.

Not necessarily frail, but no longer imbued with the same strength, agility and endurance of his youth.

That obviously didn't stop Don Murphy from shedding his shoes and leaping into the Rideau Canal in Smiths Falls to aid in rescuing a man who had driven his vehicle through road-closed signs, barricades and traffic pylons onto the closed Abbott bridge, to end up with his vehicle in the air, hitting the side of the canal, and dropping into the water.

The man was effectively imprisoned in his car, which now posed as a metal coffin, doors in locked position, and sinking. Mr. Murphy, to his wife's horror, leaped into action in the certainty that he could be of help. He wasn't the only one to react this way, only the oldest person to come to the rescue. There was a Parks Canada employee and another bystander, both of whom, like Mr. Murphy reacted instantly.

Between them they managed to hoist a stout piece of wood, smash the car window, unlock the car, and get the man out of his seatbelt, and out of the water. And by the time they had accomplished that police had arrived, helping to pull the man onto solid ground. And then the man, who had planned to commit suicide, and who had managed to deliver that message to his rescuers, was taken to hospital.

Now the work associated with restoring a potential suicide to belief in the value of his life will commence. And Don Murphy, the Parks Canada employee and the other action-oriented bystander can feel good about themselves, deservedly.