When I Google the Surrey SkyTrain, I can read all about the bad news.
I can read about assaults and even a shooting.
Yet this past weekend there was a Good Samaritan who jumped onto the tracks to help a stranger that had fallen, was unconscious and covered in blood.
That Good Samaritan was my brother, Brian Fleetwood.
Brian grew up in Surrey and recently moved to Gabriola Island to raise a family.
He and his family came home for Thanksgiving and when he was here he had the opportunity to go to the Canucks’ game with my husband.
When they arrived at the Scott Road station everyone was in a great mood looking forward to the game when all of a sudden disaster stuck.
A man had fallen onto the tracks and was bleeding heavily from the head.
Before anyone else even had time to process what had happened, Brian jumped into action.
He threw off his coat, ran across the platform, and jumped onto the tracks. Brian talked to the man and reassured him that help was coming.
All the while Brian was unsure if they could be electrocuted or if a train might come.
The man regained consciousness and with the help of another man that jumped onto the tracks, they were able to get the injured man onto a bench.
Shortly after that the paramedics arrived and took him to hospital.
Brian was covered in a stranger’s blood, but he cleaned up and then proceeded to go to the game.
Later when I asked Brian what he was thinking, he said, “Someone was hurt and I had to go do what I could to help him.”
I am thankful for my brother Brian. He is a true hero and we are so proud of him.
Kathryn Chouinard