14°c A few clouds
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Paramedic's death huge loss for community
FRIENDS and co-workers identified the Ashern man killed in a snowmobile crash near Moosehorn as Chris Arns, a well-known and highly regarded paramedic.
"It's a horrible loss," said his friend Dan Trakalo. "He has two young children and his whole family is from that area."
Arns was a friendly guy, someone who'd wrap a buddy in a hug instead of a handshake, said Trakalo, who is the union steward for Local 411 paramedics in Selkirk.
RCMP reported Thursday the Ashern man, 33, was killed and another man injured when their snowmobiles hit trees on groomed trails they were riding about 1:30 a.m.
Ashern and Moosehorn are neighbouring towns. Ashern is 190 kilometres north of Winnipeg and Moosehorn is 14 km further up Highway 6.
RCMP didn't identify Arns as the deceased, but word spread quickly among paramedics.
One paramedic said the two men had walked from the crash site to the highway, where they were met by paramedics who'd been called to the scene. He couldn't say how far the men had walked or who called for help.
Both men were talking when they reached paramedics. It was on the highway where Arns suddenly collapsed.
"A lot of people who attended at the accident knew him. The paramedics, obviously. They were very good friends," said Trakalo. It was devastating for them, he said.
Thursday, a critical-incident team of about six paramedics drove to Ashern to offer counselling to paramedics there, a crew of about 12 professionals.
Arns was pronounced dead in hospital. There is no word on the cause of death pending an autopsy, Trakalo, said.
RCMP identified Arns' companion as a 38-year-old Moosehorn man. He was said to be recovering in hospital from non-life-threatening injuries.
RCMP also reported both men were wearing helmets and alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Arns is being mourned by his fellow paramedics across the province and by his wife, children and extended family.
The town of Ashern is as tightly knit as the paramedics themselves, said Trakalo, adding Arns was heavily involved in the community. He played recreational hockey on the "old-timers" team, even though he was only 33.
When winter melted into spring, he'd hang up his skates for his baseball mitt.
Arns was known for his compassion and dedication to a job that covered some of the province's rockiest terrain.
His job, with the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, covered a territory that stretched south almost to Eriksdale, north to Moosehorn on Highway 6, west to the Narrows and east to Stonewall and Selkirk.
Arns' boss, John Stinson, CEO, Interlake-Eastern RHA, said, "Our EMS team regionally and provincially has suffered a great loss with Chris' passing. He will be remembered for his passion in the pursuit of what he believed in and for his compassion as a family-focused father, paramedic and community member. He will be missed by his colleagues, who have also lost a good friend."
Arns was a paramedic for eight years, said Trakalo, adding the two climbed through the ranks of the service together. "This is very traumatic," he said.
alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 18, 2013 A4
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 20 articles for today)
Another big protest as Brazilians lament high cost of living, lack of good public services
6:13 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Teen on train tracks from York Landing
- Man convicted of drunk driving in Henderson pile-up
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- RCMP say woman deliberately murdered her sister with her car
- Toronto woman dead in rural Manitoba ATV wreck
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Portage Ave. stretch re-opens after Friday-night bomb scare
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Two Winnipeg teens identified as victims of crash
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Father, daughter seriously injured in ATV crash
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Filipino singer Charice comes out as lesbian; Catholic official says she's in identity crisis
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Craig Ferguson adds second show
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Teens can join Let It Out Summer Rock Camp
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- New Flyer awarded Atlanta bus contract
- Suspect arrested after North End sex assault
- Youths charged in fatal shooting of chief's grandson, 5, on Alberta reserve
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Priest kept silent about accusations against Storheim, court hears
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Geothermal heat coming to some Manitoba First Nations
- Spiralling cost of land raises new home prices
- Rogers and MTS announce new network sharing agreement
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Door openers being used to break into garages, police warn
- Province formally opens Mental Health Crisis Response Centre
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.