Click here to visit the mobile version of winnipegfreepress.com

Winnipeg Free Press > Latest News > Homeless man saves teen's life

Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Homeless man saves teen's life

Jumped into Red to help boy back to shore

By: Mary Agnes Welch

5/05/2009 10:39 AM | Comments: 29

Faron Hall (right) and friend Wayne Spence at the Provencher Bridge. Hall is being hailed for his heroic rescue of a teenage boy near the bridge.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Faron Hall (right) and friend Wayne Spence at the Provencher Bridge. Hall is being hailed for his heroic rescue of a teenage boy near the bridge.

WINNIPEG - A homeless man is being hailed as a hero after diving into the frigid, fast-moving Red River to rescue a teenage boy over the weekend.

Faron Hall and his friend, Wayne Spence, were sitting on a bench on the Tache Avenue riverbank just north of the Provencher Bridge when they spotted a teenage boy tumbling over the bridge's guardrail and into the Red.

Contact Us

Did you witness the rescue, or do you know the boy who was saved?

The Free Press wants to hear from you. E-mail us at city.desk@freepress.mb.ca or call 697-7292.

Related Items

  1. Articles

  2. Blogs

The boy and his friends were on the bridge's north sidewalk and were trying to race across when the boy pole-vaulted over a railing onto what he thought was the pedestrian bridge. But the two spans aren't connected, and instead of landing on concrete the boy did a back-flop into the water. The sound he made on impact was remarkable, say witnesses.

"I thought, 'This isn't going to be a rescue, this is going to be a recovery,' " said St. Boniface resident Marion Willis, who was walking back from The Forks with her family Sunday afternoon.

But that's when Hall, without thinking, shucked his backpack and dove into the river, swimming out about 15 metres to grab the boy.

"When he dove in, I thought, 'Are you friggin' nuts?" said Spence.

The boy was apparently unable to swim because of injuries to his back, but he was panicking and getting sucked under by the eddies and the undertow.

"He started to fight me and climb on me," said Hall. "He ducked me under a couple of times so I had to slap him in the head a couple of times or he would have drowned both of us. I feel really bad about that but we would have been in Lockport by now if I didn't. I just said 'You're cold, I'm cold. Just lay on your back and kick.' "

Just as Hall was nearing the shore and about to give in to the cold and exhaustion, Spence reached out and dragged the two and pulled them onto shore. By then, paramedics had arrived and took the teenager and Hall to St. Boniface General Hospital.

Hall was able to briefly visit the boy, who was conscious but still shivering.

Late Monday, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service officials had no information on the boy's condition.

Hall, 44, has been an alcoholic living under the Provencher Bridge -- "-51 C with the wind chill is my record," he recalls -- for about seven years. A member of the Dakota Tipi First Nation, he says he grew up in a good foster home in Waverley Heights, finished high school and was working as a teaching assistant at Hugh John Macdonald School while taking education classes at the University of Manitoba. But booze took hold, especially after his mother was murdered on Maryland Street about a decade ago. About three years ago, his sister was stabbed on Main Street.

"I had potential," said Hall. "There have been so many pitfalls in my life."

But Willis, who went back to visit with Hall Monday, said his quick-thinking bravery should make people think twice when they encounter the homeless.

"This is a man that most people would avoid at all costs, who is kind of scary-looking," said Willis. "But he just had both the courage and the humanity to not even think about it and just plunge himself into the water to save a life."

maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca

Did you witness the rescue, or do you know the boy who was saved? The Free Press wants to hear from you. E-mail us at city.desk@freepress.mb.ca or call 697-7292.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 5, 2009 B1

  • Rate this Rate This Star Icon
  • This article is currently rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 (5 votes).

    • We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

    You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

    Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

29 Commentscomment icon

wow Good for you Mr Hall

To Major Westchester, I believe trapper's 1204 point was even though Mr Hall was clearly a hero no matter what his personal circumstances, there will still be sad individuals who will never see him past his appearance. I have taken his comment as an example of this. I dont feel he was stearing this story in another direction, just pointing out a real hero and a real loser. The police dept would know who said this, maybe he could offer an apology, and it could be a perfect ending. You yourself sound like a police officer or relative of one, or someone who have never been involved or actually witnessed an incident lately.

Let's not all forget Mr. Spence, who pulled them both from the frigid Red River. Thank you to both of you who saved this boy's life.

What a shame the some people have taken a truly inspiring story and twisted it to suit their own agendas. With all due respect "trapper 1204" I see no value in taking this story and then adding your comments regarding your perceived observations of the Police Officer's conduct that day. Unfortunately, people see stuff like this in print and automatically grant it credibility because "...if i read it on the internet, it must be true."
I for one, am going to focus on Mr. Hall's selfless generosity and bravery that day and will ignore your little "shot" at the police.

What a great story. I sure would like to see Faron Hall recognized as a hero. I know that if he saved my kid I would be forever thankful.

I think this Homeless man did a brave thing to do. Good Job Man

you missed my point edwina....... i think it would mean more to mr hall if he was to hear it for himself. i was in no way trying to imply that he does not have friends or family that would pass on such positive comments and well wishes. i would like to think that given the poor hand mr hall has been dealt in life, it would be an incredibly positive and uplifiting experience he could look back on instead of all the terrible things that have happened in his life.

after reading R U serious`s comment, i find concious obliged to reply.


I work with people like Mr. Hall & happen to have met him on a few occasions, and I will tell you right away that he is a teriffic person and would still be even if he didnt jump in the river.

However, being homeless does not mean not having any friends who may have internet/tv access and/or people you know who will spread the news.

I myself was out looking for Mr Hall today to spread him the news, but I am sure he already knows - the various media outlets are searching for him too (and asked me for directions as to where to go to get a *scoop*) , and i'm sure someone will spread the news


as trapper1204 mentionned, people do not chose to be homeless - many different circumstances affect our local population, and lots dont have the resources needed nor the capacity to get themselves out of a non ideal situation ( let it be addiction, abuse, physical / mental health, debt,lack of education .... ) there are many, if not hundreds of people in our cold winter city that border the line of homelessness every day , for whatever reason, and it truly is a struggle to survive with no fixed adress - but those who do survive should be treated like we would any other human being - with dignity, respect, and admiration. even those who border surviving, they too are humans, and no one is *scum* or should be treated badly.

Ask yourselves the following question :
Would I be able to survive were I in their shoes ?


My Mom lost her cousin when he saved a boy from drowning in the Assinaboine River. He never got to hear the thanks that the boys father had to give.

Mr. Hall is one of those heros who needs to be thanked time and again for his bravery and his truly kind heart. Without him being there, this boy would never have made it.

Thank you Mr Hall for just being true to who you are supposed to be. Even with addictions the true you never disappears. I hope that this might be the turn for you for the better.

i wish there were more stories like this in the news. as for all of you who 'congratulate' mr. hall: he's homeless!!! he can't read these, he doesn't have a home computer! if you truly feel he deserves to be congratulated i'm sure he wouldn't mind if you were to drop by his 'house' and do it in person.

View all Comments

The comment period for this story has ended.

letters

Make text: Larger | Smaller

Special coverage

Our Communities

Poll

North Dakota's ramping up for a flood battle. Are you concerned about what will happen north of the border?

View Results

View Related Story