Winnipeg woman receives award for rescuing teens on Lake Manitoba
A Winnipeg woman is being honoured for her heroics after saving two teens last year on Lake Manitoba.
Renata Bandel is being recognized by the Carnegie Hero Fund by being awarded the Carnegie Medal.
The award is given to civilians in Canada and the United States who risk their lives to save or try to save another person.
Bandel was one of 18 people to receive the award and only one of two Canadians on the list.
"I was very excited and honoured to be receiving such a prestigious award. I never dreamed that that would happen," said Bandel.
She is receiving the award for her efforts in saving two 17-year-old girls at Lake Manitoba on June 3, 2020.
Bandel said is was a perfect day to be outside and she and her family went to Delta beach.
While there, she said three teenage girls decided to go into the water on a raft, noting they were all wearing life jackets.
"They got swept out towards the middle of the lake and could not paddle back against the strong winds and waves."
Bandel said one of the girls stayed on the raft and was eventually able to call 911.
"Two of the girls decided to try and swim towards shore rather than stay on the raft and they continued to get swept further and further from shore."
Bandel said while she was playing in the water with her family, she was told that someone was in the water calling for help.
"I sent my niece back to shore and swam towards the first girl. She was so relieved, but also terrified for her other two friends."
Bandel said she brought the girl back to shore where emergency crews had arrived.
However, Bandel said she couldn't just stand around waiting for emergency crews to find where the other girl was.
"I decided to go into the deep water and maybe see or hear her and then my sister caught my attention… I saw the little red dot."
She said she started swimming to the second girl, battling the wind and the choppy water, but was eventually able to reach her.
Bandel started to bring the second girl back to shore and that's when the RCMP water rescue boat came and they got on board, and went and found the third girl who was still floating on the raft.
"I'm so glad that I was in the right place at the right time."
One of the girls was taken to hospital and treated for hypothermia.
Bandel said she isn't sure what sparked her to jump to action, but she knew she had to help.
"I think it was pure adrenaline…I didn't notice the temperature (of the water), I didn't notice being tired, I didn't notice anything. I just locked in on the girls and swam to them."
The Carnegie Medal has been given out to more than 10,000 people and the award is given out four times a year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.