By Eric McCarthy
UNIONVALE – A 54-year-old Unionvale man is in critical condition in the burn unit of the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Halifax after suffering severe burns in a workplace accident Saturday afternoon.
Two passersby noticed a man in flames running out of the Western Welding shop in Unionvale shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday.
Glen Campbell, who was travelling with Austie O’Meara, said they turned in and went to the man’s rescue.
“I looked in and I saw him coming out the bay door and he was just engulfed in flames,” he said.
By the time they got into the yard the victim was in a chair and the chair was on fire.
“I just grabbed him out of the chair and I put him on the ground and I rolled him and rolled him until the flames went out,” said Campbell.
“I just remembered my first aid training,” said the school teacher who has taught his students the ‘stop, drop and roll’ response to suppressing flames.
“I guess adrenaline just took over and I did what I had to do.”
He said the flames were out within a couple of minutes.
“I got him down and rolled him and kept telling him to ‘roll, roll.’”
He said O’Meara grabbed a shade umbrella to smother the flames on the man’s boots.
Island EMS paramedics were on the scene moments after Campbell placed the 911 call. O’Leary Volunteer Fire Department and West Prince RCMP also responded, he said.
Campbell said he seated the victim in a chair and kept talking to him to keep him calm until medical help arrived.
“I’m just glad that I could help out in any way,” said the Cascumpec resident. “I wish the best for him. He’s in the right place. They’ve got good staff over there.”
Occupational Health and Safety is conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. job well done Glen and Austie for going to the aid of a man in trouble.