Family from Bonavista Bay Honoured for Saving a Man’s Life
A family from Bonavista Bay has been recognized for their extraordinary life-saving actions after reviving a man with autism who nearly choked during a meal. The Keats family—Tony, his wife Donna, and their children Cole and Toni—recently received the St. John Ambulance Life-Saving Award for their calm, coordinated response during the emergency.
According to a CBC News report, the incident occurred in October when the man began choking while eating lunch at home.
👉 Original story available from CBC News here:
Family from Bonavista Bay awarded for saving man’s life
Recognizing the Emergency
Tony Keats, who provides home support for the man, noticed immediate signs of distress.
I noticed there was a large amount of peanut butter bread in his mouth,” Keats told CBC’s Central Morning Show. “He has a tendency of not chewing sometimes.”
Tony attempted to remove the obstruction and began performing the Heimlich maneuver, but the food could not be dislodged. Shortly afterward, the man became unresponsive, turning the situation into a life-threatening emergency.
A Family Response That Saved a Life
By chance, Tony’s son and daughter were home at the time. Without hesitation, the entire family stepped in to help.
“My son went into doing the breaths and I did the compressions,” Keats said. “My wife was on the phone with emergency services, and my daughter was giving us direction.”
Their teamwork and training helped revive the man before paramedics arrived and transported him to hospital.
Training Made the Difference
All members of the Keats family had completed first aid and CPR training through separate courses. Tony credits that training for giving them the confidence to act quickly and without panic.
This real-life emergency highlights the importance of learning CPR and AED skills, which can prepare individuals to respond effectively during choking or cardiac emergencies. Those interested in gaining these life-saving skills can learn more through Calgary First Aid’s CPR and AED training courses:
👉 https://firstaidcalgary.ca/cpr-courses/
A Message for Everyone
“You don’t know when something’s going to happen,” Tony said. “And you’re going to have to step up and do something for someone.”
The Keats family never expected recognition for their actions, but their story serves as a powerful reminder that first aid and CPR training can save lives—when every second counts.
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