By Nigel Maxwell

Top Stories of 2014: Renowned volunteer rescued from rushing river

Dec 23, 2014 | 5:51 AM

Our 9th top story of the year…

Carol Soles never once believed that she would not be rescued as the waters of the South Saskatchewan River rushed by her.

The afternoon of May 17 had started out pleasant and fun at the river near MacDowall. Soles was out with family members quadding as part of a church function.  While quadding, Soles made a wrong calculation.  She ventured too close to the river, and the quad flipped, dragging her in.

“It all happened so fast, like one minute we were splashing around in shallow water and the next minute I’m tumbling down the river,” recalled Soles.

The water was below freezing temperatures, and the current was both very fast and very strong. Soles said she knew she had to grab hold of the quad.

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“I was very fortunate that I have a big storage box and large tires on my quad so that kept it floating, otherwise it could have been a whole other scenario.”

From the shore, Soles’s great-nephews, Tye and Kyle Anderson, took notice of what happened and quickly sprung into action.

Kyle’s younger brother Tye was the first to rush to the rescue. The 18-year -old lifeguard had training for these types of events.

“It [the water] was so cold. When I put my foot in the first time, I lost my breath completely,” he said.

Tye would then yell out for his older brother to come and help. The frigid water also took Kyle by surprise, and he recalls him and his brother both feeling helpless, watching Carol drift away on her quad.

“That’s when me and my brother realized that she is going to die,” said Kyle.

Using a winch from a quad for leverage, Tye reached Carol first.

“I got to her and the winch had locked up,” he said. I actually had a hold of her hand the first time. I was trying to pull her towards the winch, but I couldn’t do it. The water was just too strong.”

The second attempt to rescue Carol also failed. The men then devised a plan. They decided they would try and run farther down the beach, and then swim out to try and catch her. Kyle had a rope tied tightly around his waist and he swam out. Tye, along with a group of others, held the line. Kyle injured his shoulder out trying to grab the quad. He then gave up and grabbed Soles by the jacket.

“I said you’re coming with me and then she said no,” said Kyle, who described Carol as very pale and in shock.

Along the shore, Carol’s niece Pati kept pace with the quad, shouting words of encouragement: “Don’t let go … Hang on to your quad … Don’t let go… We will get you out.”

“I was so focused on what Pati was saying. The only time I panicked was when Kyle got my hands and I had to let go of the quad. I sank because I still had all my gear on and I panicked because I went under two or three times, and I couldn’t breathe.”

Once on shore, Kyle’s wife stripped off Carol’s wet clothes, and placed her by the warm fire they had built. Members of the group literally provided Carol with the warm clothes off their backs.

Once some of the initial shock had worn off, Carol, Tye and Kyle stood together on the riverbank.

“We just shook and hugged, shook and hugged, they always were special but now they are even more special,” said Soles.

In November, Tye, Kyle and Pati were recognized for their act of bravery. 

During a special ceremony in Regina, Tye and Kyle were presented with medals of bravery from Lieutenant-Governor Vaughn Schofield. Pati received a special certificate for her involvement.

Four months after the initial incident, Kyle said he could still recall quite vividly the events of the day.

“I actually didn’t spend much time in the lake this summer because of it. My brother won’t even go in the friggin[g] water anymore. Tye dislikes the water now because of that situation,” said Kyle.

Kyle said since that day, his relationship with his aunt has grown stronger.

To read more of our top stories of 2014, click here.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell