A Nova Scotia man who stopped to help a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle on Hillside Avenue in March has been awarded a civic service award by Victoria police.
The man had just gotten a takeaway coffee and was driving away when he came upon the man at Hillside and Ross Lane on March 1.
Police said the man acted without hesitation to provide first aid. Even after paramedics had arrived, the man stayed by the victim’s side, Victoria police said. The pedestrian died of his injuries.
“Adam showed remarkable compassion by offering care in their final moments. He shared with officers that his sole goal was to comfort the victim so they would not have to die alone,” police said in a statement.
Police said the man asked that his last name not be shared for privacy reasons.
The man's brother Dan said Adam had just arrived the day before from Dartmouth, N.S., to visit family.
“[He] literally went to Tim Hortons, got a coffee and the next thing you know, he’s trying to save somebody’s life in the middle of a busy road,” he said. “We’re very proud of Adam.”
Motorists were still driving through the accident scene when his brother stopped to provide first aid to the elderly man who had been struck, he said.
Adam could have very well been hit by a car if not for a nearby city worker who began redirecting traffic, he said. “Whoever that unnamed city worker was has our thanks from the bottom of our hearts.”
The civic service award was presented to Adam on Tuesday in Halifax by Victoria Police Chief Del Manak, who was there for the annual Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police conference.
In a statement, Manak said Adam exhibited the “characteristic that unites us all as Canadians, regardless of which coast we are on: an unwavering desire to help one another in times of need.”
“On behalf of the entire Victoria Police Department, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Adam for his compassion and selflessness during what turned out to be a very tragic incident,” he said.
Victoria police spokesperson Const. Terri Healy said police are not able to provide further details as the case remains under investigation.
