varsity news

Durham Lords Media Release
Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Durham College basketball player receives great honour off the court

Oshawa, Ont. – On the Durham College women’s basketball team, Sarah Lemaire (Bainsville, Ont.) receives a lot of attention from opposing players, but it was her actions off the court that earned her multiple prestigious awards this past November, including the Commissioners Award for Life Saving as well as the OPP – St. John Ambulance award.

Lemaire, a first year Law and Security student at Durham College and varsity athlete demonstrated her life-saving abilities in the summer of 2007 while on a casual boat ride with three of her friends on the St. Lawrence River.

While on the river, Lemaire witnessed a man thrown into the water after his personal sea doo had struck a wave. The man was seriously injured after hitting his head on the watercraft. Lemaire became aware of the urgent situation and using her quick instincts, realized the man had to be extricated immediately. She dove into the water to help the casualty of the crash and found him with his face blue and having trouble breathing. She was able to drag the victim close to their boat where her friends hauled the man out of the water. The group of friends quickly made it back to shore where they called 9-1-1 for further assistance.

Thanks to Lemaire and her actions, the man survived the near fatal crash. She was commended for her courageous efforts and for her knowledge and use of first aid. Lemaire was honoured in a ceremony in Ottawa on Saturday, November 23.

The Durham College athletic department would like to congratulate Sarah for her efforts. You can catch the Durham Lords women’s basketball team in action on Tuesday, January 6 vs. George Brown College. Tip-off at the CRWC is at 6 p.m.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)