Bruce J. Lake

Bruce J. Lake rescued Holli J. Robertson from drowning, Alma, New Brunswick, August 19, 2023. Robertson, 20, stepped a few feet into a swimming hole in the Broad River, lost her footing and was pulled into an area of turbulent and fast-moving water at the convergence of two small waterfalls. Robertson held to a large boulder in between the two waterfalls and attempted to get to safety but could not. Lake, 48, an off-duty police officer from another province, was hiking in the area with friends and saw Robertson having difficulty in the river. Robertson attempted to swim downstream out of the current but fully submerged about 10 feet from where Lake stood on another boulder. Lake jumped into the water feet-first into water at least 8 feet deep with zero visibility. Completely submerged, he waved his arms in front of him and brushed Robertson’s arm. Lake grasped Robertson and pulled her to him as the water pulled them down farther and away from where he had jumped into the water. Lake kicked his feet and used his other arm to swim to the surface with Robertson. Lake then pushed Robertson toward the boulder, where another woman grabbed her hand. Lake felt himself being pulled back into the strong current, but Robertson grasped his hand and the two were pulled to the boulder. Robertson and Lake were assisted from the water. Robertson swallowed water and sustained lacerations to her body; she recovered. Lake was nearly exhausted after the rescue and sustained a laceration to his elbow; he recovered.