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17-year-old receives civilian award for heroic act

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17-year-old receives civilian award for heroic act
17-year-old receives civilian award for heroic act – Apr 5, 2016

TORONTO – Alesia Bianchi was just 16 years old when she acted on instinct to help a young man in need.

After leaving the gym with her mother and two sisters on Sept. 9 2015, she saw a young male cyclist lying on the ground after he was struck by a car in a parking lot.

“I just saw him on the floor and the windshield of the SUV was smashed in,” Bianchi said.

Bianchi is studying to be a certified lifeguard and had received her standard first aid, emergency first aid and CPRC training.

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“I just kind of said ‘hey, I’m certified and everything can I help you?'”

Mother, Nina Bianchi said her daughter jumped at the chance to help the man.

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“She was very calm. I was standing there watching her and I was so proud of her… She went right in and she helped the boy,” she said.

“She’s always there with all her heart to help others and that’s the type of girl she is,” her mother said.

Bianchi used an onlooker’s shirt to tend to the young man’s wounds and EMS arrived shortly thereafter.

On Tuesday, Bianchi received a civilian award from the Toronto Paramedic Services for her quick thinking that day.

“Every year we see a number of young people who just seem to know exactly what to do whether they are 16 years old, like [Bianchi] or whether they are five,” Toronto Paramedic Chief Paul Raftis said.

“They have gone above and beyond … and it’s our honour to thank them today for that action.”

Bianchi has dreams of being a paramedic one day and although she never heard from the young man, she says she would like to reconnect to see how he’s doing.

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