Guelph boys credited with saving unconscious man on train tracks

Three Guelph boys are being credited with helping save the life of a man who was found unconscious on a set of train tracks on Thursday.

Eleven-year-old Griffin Wood, 12-year-old Gabriel Saulnier, and 12-year-old Jordan Berry were riding their bikes in the area of Silvercreek Parkway and Waterloo Avenue when they noticed something on the tracks nearby.

READ MORE: Woman collapses at hospital following Guelph car crash, say police

“I thought it was just rubbish, like someone’s garbage,” Griffin said in an interview on Friday afternoon.

Upon closer inspection, the boys realized it was an unconscious man, but Griffin explained that, at the time, they weren’t even sure if the man was alive.

“He was completely still, no movement,” he said.

“We thought about approaching him, but we thought it was a bad idea and we should go get help.”

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Jordan ran over to a nearby construction site and told one of the workers about what they had found. One worker was able to partially wake the man and call 911.

Once paramedics arrived, the boys were able to show them where the man was and Guelph police said the 41-year-old was successfully revived.

“I was relieved that he was alive, but still wondering what was happening,” Griffin said.

Police didn’t comment on what happened to the man, but Griffin said he was told the man had probably overdosed and it looked like he fell off his bike onto the tracks.

Police said a train was scheduled to pass through the area approximately 30 minutes later and may have resulted in the man losing his life.

Griffin said the entire incident was overwhelming.

“If I wasn’t there, 30 minutes later that guy could have died,” he said, noting he doesn’t ride his bike in that area very often.

READ MORE: Arthur, Ont. man killed in motorcycle crash north of Guelph

He added that he has learned two very important lessons: don’t hang around the train tracks and don’t do drugs.

“The impact that can happen to you when you do drugs – it’s not something I want to do.”

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In a statement, police described the boys’ response as “heroic.” They also noted that all three were wearing their helmets and for their safe cycling, they were rewarded with a Dairy Queen “ticket” for a free mini-blizzard.