A real life saver
Kensington boy recognized for helping friend
A little gumball caused a big problem for a nine-year-old Kensington boy recently – fortunately his friend knew how to help.
The buddies, Owen Killam, 10, and Reichen Sherry, 9, were visiting another boy’s house for a birthday party on Friday night when a handful of gumballs Reichen was chewing became lodged in his throat. Unable to breathe, the boy stood up from his seat and gestured to his friends for help. Owen noticed the panicked look on his companion’s face, realized what was happening and performed an abdominal thrust (also called a Heimlich maneuver) on the other boy. “I was panicking in my head, I had no idea what to do,” recounted Owen.
“Then it clicked, cuz I saw it on TV.”
The gumball dislodged and, as if nothing happened, the boys went back to their party. Reichen’s mom, Adrien Bernard Sherry, said her son told her about the incident a bit after the party.
“I don’t think the boys realize how serious it was, cause they went right back to playing Xbox,” said Bernard Sherry.
Eventually, word of the incident reached Const. Robb Hartlen, of the Kensignton Police Service.
Someone happened to mention it to him offhandedly, said Hartlen, but he thought it was important enough to warrant digging into.
“There’s just way too much happening here to just let this go,” he thought to himself at the time.
“I think a kid at that age should definitely be patted on the back and we should let him know that what he did was a huge deal.”
Hartlen, in less than 24 hours, co-ordinated a commendation from the International Police Association, of which he is the P.E.I. co-ordinator, and presented it to Owen during an assembly at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School on Tuesday. Mayor Rowan Caseley of Kensington also presented him with a commendation from the town.
Bernard Sherry said she and Reichen’s father, Wayne Sherry, are happy that Owen is being recognized.
“It really just recognizes the hero he was in that situation,” she said.
“I don’t think words can express how happy we are.” Owen’s father, Doug Killam, said his family is very proud of him.
“Words can’t describe what he did, to be honest,” he said.
“He’s a kid, he’s 10-years-old, I don’t think it’s really sunk in what he did, but he knows what he did was right.”
Owen is just happy he could help his friend.
“It felt pretty good, just to know you saved somebody’s life.”