2021-03-03

Queens District RCMP officer wins award for bravery

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An officer with the Queens District RCMP has been awarded with the prestigious Commanding Officer's Commendation for Bravery.

Cpl. Robert Frizzell was recognized for his courageous rescue of a woman from the Mersey River on the morning of May 10, 2020, after an accident landed her vehicle submerged in water.

In a social media announcement of the award on February 25, the RCMP described how, when Frizzell arrived on scene, the vehicle was fully submerged in the Mersey.

"An occupant of the vehicle was able to get out of the car but was floating downstream and unable to make it to shore.

"Knowing that a water recovery unit would take time to arrive, Cpl. Frizzell chose to get in the water. He grabbed a PFD and a paddleboard, then tied a rope around himself harness style, with another member and volunteer firefighter remaining on shore to hold the other end of the rope.

"He swam into the river, grabbed hold of the woman and continued to hold onto her while the on-shore member and firefighter pulled them to safety," the post continued. It ended with, "Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Cpl. Frizzell."

RCMP Commanding Officer for Nova Scotia, Lee Bergerman, presented Frizzell with the award February 11.

Frizzell declined to be interviewed by LighthouseNOW, preferring to deflect praise to all of the responders that were on the scene that day. In an email to the newspaper, he commented that he was "truly thankful" for being recognized for the award. Nonetheless, he added, although he was the one who went into the water, "there was a whole team of others that were instrumental in rescuing the woman.

"From all the onlookers who provided support and the paddleboard, the other emergency personal both police and fire, who held the rope, and everyone who provided medical care after the woman was brought out of the water, it really was a team effort. It was really great to see a community come together and help someone in need," said Frizzell.

Staff Sergeant Daniel Archibald of the Queens District RCMP echoed the praise given to the officer.

"We are all very proud of the actions of Cpl. Frizzell as well as actions of the other officers and firefighters that day. We are, of course, most happy with the fact that the victim in this incident was able to 'walk away' with no long-term injuries," Archibald commented to LighthouseNOW in an email.

"All too often, as first responders, we often see things go the other way, unfortunately. It's great to see Cpl. Frizzell and others get recognized for single incidences like this one, as all too often these acts of bravery happen every day across this country and no one hears about it," Archibald added.

Hailing from Prince Edward Island, Frizzell has served in Airdrie, Alberta and in three communities in the Northwest Territories: Behchoko, Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik. He arrived in Liverpool in September 2019.

In an acticle that appeared in LighthouseNOW following the event,Captain John Long of the Liverpool Fire Department, who was on the scene, was quoted saying he hoped there's recognition in the future for the officer who jumped into action that morning.

"He deserves kudos for that because that took guts, I'll tell you," said Long.