Mom Tracks Down Climber Who Helped Save Son’s Life at Elora Gorge
A frightening accident at Elora Gorge turned into a powerful story of gratitude, quick thinking, and the life-saving importance of first aid training.
On June 30, during the Canada Day long weekend, Joanne Beckett and her family were visiting relatives near the popular Ontario attraction when her 10-year-old son, Zakaria, suffered a serious fall. While walking down a concrete staircase, Zak slipped, struck his head on nearby rocks, and was left badly injured.
“I didn’t see what he hit his head on,” Beckett told CBC News. “I just saw him crawling toward us.”
As she ran to her son, Beckett noticed blood pooling around his eye and feared he had lost it. Moments later, she saw a large, open wound on his head as Zak screamed, “Mom, my head!”
Calm First Aid in a Moment of Chaos
Despite the panic of the moment, Beckett stayed calm and helped Zak up the stairs. A nearby bystander immediately called for an ambulance, while Beckett’s boyfriend stayed with their daughter.
Once they reached the top, help arrived from an unexpected source. A woman wearing rappelling gear—part of a climbing group in the area—had heard Zak’s screams and quickly contacted a member of her team who was a military medic.
The medic rushed over, calmly assessed Zak’s injuries, and pulled a head bandage from his personal first aid kit. He treated the wound and helped keep Zak still and reassured while they waited for paramedics.
“Zak had his back against the medic’s chest,” Beckett recalled. “He talked very soothingly to him the entire time.”
Zak was later transported to Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus, where he received further medical care.
A Search for a “Guardian Angel”
In the chaos of the emergency, Beckett never had the chance to properly thank the medic. After the incident, friends encouraged her to turn to social media. She posted a heartfelt message on Facebook, hoping to find the man she described as her son’s “guardian angel.”
After days of messages and shares, someone provided a possible email address. When Beckett searched the name online, she found no profile photo—only a brief detail that read “Canadian Armed Forces.”
She reached out, and days later received a reply. The man confirmed he was the medic who helped Zak, but asked to remain anonymous so the focus would remain on medics everywhere, not himself. He also wrote that Zak had many guardian angels watching over him that day.
According to the original CBC News report, Beckett said the experience left her family feeling incredibly thankful for the trained stranger who stepped in at exactly the right moment.
👉 Read the full CBC story here: Mom tracks down climber who helped save son’s life at Elora Gorge
Why First Aid Training Matters
“We feel so blessed and fortunate to have had him come into our lives and save our family,” Beckett said.
This incident is a powerful reminder that first aid knowledge can save lives. When emergencies happen in public places like hiking trails, parks, or stairways, trained bystanders often become the first and most critical line of help.
Learning essential skills—such as controlling bleeding, assessing head injuries, and keeping an injured person calm—can make a life-changing difference before paramedics arrive.
👉 Learn more about Standard First Aid & CPR training through Calgary First Aid here:
https://firstaidcalgary.ca/standard-first-aid-courses/
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