EDMONTON- A local man and his dog, who are being hailed heroes, were reunited with the young girls they saved from the North Saskatchewan River earlier this week.
Adam Shaw and his Labrador retriever-husky cross Rocky were honoured by the Edmonton Oil Kings at the game at Rexall Place Friday evening. And in an unexpected move, Samara Sunshine, 9, and her sister Krymzen, 10, surprised them.
“I thought if they were going to be here, they’d be in the suite with us. I was completely shocked,” said Adam who didn’t expect to see the girls at the game.
Adam and Rocky rescued Samara and Krymzen from the North Saskatchewan River Sunday afternoon, after they fell into the icy water while out for a walk.
Adam says the entire situation was somewhat surreal, but he’s happy to see the girls are okay.
“Last time I saw them it was so scary and, you know, they were cold and scared. So it’s just good to see them healthy and walking around.”
It was a tearful reunion Friday, as the girls and their family reunited with Adam for the first time since that scary Sunday afternoon.
“When I saw him walking on the ice to drop the puck I just wanted to jump down and grab him,” said the girls’ mother Miranda Wagner. “I didn’t want to let go of him, he saved my kids.”
Wagner says her daughters had gone for a walk with some friends about half an hour before the incident took place Sunday. She says she can’t imagine what might have happened to her girls if Adam wasn’t there to save them.
“I look at him as an angel,” Wagner said. “I’m really thankful and I’ll never ever be able to repay him. He’s forever in my heart.”
Extremely thankful, Sarama and Krymzen hugged Adam and gave him and Rocky a few presents to show their gratitude.
“My whole class made him cards,” Samara said. “My mom bought him an angel… and we got Rocky treats.”
“(Adam) was very brave,” said Krymzen. “If it wasn’t for him my sister wouldn’t be here.”
“He’s a hero to me and my sister,” said Samara. “I really love him now.”
A humble man, Adam says he’s just happy he was able to help.
“I don’t know if I have quite processed it yet,” he said. “I’m glad I was there for them.”
With files from Quinn Ohler.
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