Tragedy averted by quick-acting Ash Grove Inn server

A young family who spent the afternoon of July 2 at the public beach on Kamaniskeg Lake are grateful that they — and others who attempted to help them — escaped harm after an innocent ride on an inflatable drifted into dangerous territory. Above clockwise from front left: the Graham family, Naomi, Mandy, Mark, Gabriel, and the family lovebird Twee-twee on Mark’s arm.

Pastor Mark Graham said his wife Mandy took their children, Gabriel, 13, and Naomi, 6, to the public beach in Barry’s Bay on July 2. Mandy gave Gabriel permission to go out on their friends’ giant inflatable bird and saw that he was floating not far from shore. When she called out to him, Gabriel responded, “I’m fine, Mom.” But in the space of “two minutes” the wind caught the floaty and the next thing Mandy heard was a panicked Gabriel shouting for help.  

Mandy said, “As parents you always want to be watchful for your kids but this [time I] was completely caught off guard. I didn’t even know it was possible that wind could take my son Gabriel out – it didn’t even enter my mind. It’s not like we were out on the ocean.”

Leaving Naomi with their friends on shore, Mandy plunged into Kamaniskeg to try to catch up to him but as she neared the Ash Grove Inn she tired and knew it would be impossible to reach Gabriel. A man on the Inn’s dock saw that she was in difficulty and immediately dived in to assist, but he, too, was soon in difficulty. After asking for help from any patio diners with a boat, a woman jumped in to try to rescue him. Sarah Dombrowski was serving on the patio and saw the inflatable pass by.

As Sarah tells it, “It was a group effort. People at a patio table jumped into action and rescued the three swimmers in distress. When I heard him, I realized the boy was terrified. I knew the adults were okay with the boat, so I ran across the yard, down the highway and over the embankment. I tore off my hat and my apron, and just started swimming.” Sarah entered the water ahead of the inflatable, swam out and brought Gabriel back to shore. Saying she hoped someone would help her in the same situation, Sarah said, “I was a competitive swimmer with the Candus in Deep River for years and then I was a lifeguard in the States for a little bit at a kids’ camp.”

Interviewed two weeks later, Gabriel said when he couldn’t bring the inflatable back to the beach by kicking, he called for help. As he floated further away from his mother he said, “I got scared. I thought I was going to be with Jesus.”

Gabriel’s father says they moved to the Valley last September when Mark took over as Pastor of the Family Life Christian Centre in Barry’s Bay. He admits as city folks they are on a learning curve and says although they had a backyard swimming pool in Montreal, they are not strong swimmers. He says that when the nice weather began after lockdown, they started exploring the area and visited different beaches.

Grateful parents thank God and their rescuers

He said, “We want to say thank you to Sarah, and all who helped…. One thing that stands out in this story is that there was a great willingness for people just to be selfless and to help. That guy on the dock just dove in, then the guy with the boat and somebody called the police and the ambulance. There was just a fast reaction to try and help. We thank God for watching out for everyone, the story ends well with everybody safe.”

“Being Christian we are thankful to God. We believe He orchestrated behind the scenes that Sarah would be there on that day. She didn’t hesitate at all…. I don’t think things like that happen just by chance.”

Mandy agrees, “I remember while I was swimming I was praying. And I said, ‘God, just send your angels.’ And what are the chances that a competitive swimmer and lifeguard would be working at the Ash Grove that day? She didn’t even think twice or hesitate to go in and get him. And the man who almost lost his life for us; they don’t even know us.”

Has this incident changed them? “Big time,” says Mandy. “We go over the rules before we leave, and if they don’t follow the rules while we’re there we go home. I think people need to be aware, especially on the lake, because I see people all the time with these flotation things…. They don’t realize.”

Parents issue warning

In deciding to speak to The Current, an important factor for the Graham family was increasing public awareness. Mark says, “A mistake that we made too is that Gabriel didn’t have a life jacket on because he was on that flotation device, but sometimes you just think you’re safe because you’re afloat. We’ve seen families with little kids on flotation devices not wearing life jackets…. they should know.”

Citing recent news reports of similar incidents with inflatables, the Grahams think another part of public awareness is signage on the public beach and suggest, “If there was a sign [saying] that parents should be aware that if your kids are on a flotation device strong winds can come across the lake. There has to be awareness.”

Mark adds that although he understands there cannot be a lifeguard all the time, “There should be at least a life preserver thing, maybe it could be useful.”

After the traumatic events of July 2, the Graham family returned to Montreal for a time to visit Mandy’s family. Mandy said, “After that, when you realize my life could have been gone … I hadn’t seen my parents since the lockdown.” While there, Gabriel talked to his grandparents about the incident. He’s thinking he might take swimming lessons next year.

Sarah Dombrowski, insisting it was a huge group effort, says, “As a mom I know the panic that she was probably feeling.”

And her boss at the Ash Grove Inn, Wendell Henry, posted on Facebook, “Way to go Sarah! You really are a hero and we are lucky to have you on our team!

(She went home to put some dry clothes on and came back for her shift! What a trooper!)”