A North Vancouver man who jumped into frigid waters under the Lions Gate Bridge last December in an attempt to save the life of a suicidal woman has been officially hailed a hero by the West Vancouver Police Department.
Christoph Deeg was walking under the bridge with his wife on Dec. 9 when he heard a splash in the water and spotted a motionless person.
Realizing someone had jumped from the bridge deck, Deeg took immediate action by entering the water and swimming out 100 metres to recover the unresponsive young woman.
“After swimming in the frigid water for over 10 minutes, Mr Deeg was unable to pull the female fully out of the water and onto the shore,” said West Vancouver Police Department spokesman Const. Jeff Palmer, in a news release. Palmer said Deeg “remained in the water up to his waist for another 10 minutes performing CPR until emergency services arrived.”
Deeg suffered mild hypothermia as a result of his heroic efforts that day, and was taken to Lions Gate Hospital by ambulance for treatment.
Palmer said in the release that sadly, in spite of Deeg’s efforts, the young woman died of her injuries.
Acknowledging that Deeg put his own life on the line to save another’s, the West Vancouver Police Board honoured the University of British Columbia microbiologist with a Certificate of Merit this week, for “his quick and decisive action and commitment to the community.”
On hand for the presentation was West Vancouver Mayor Michael Smith, chairman of the police board, and Chief Const. Len Goerke, along with Deeg’s mother, Jutta, and wife, Cortney.
