Renata Bandel helped rescue two 17-year-old girls from drowning, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, June 3, 2020. Two girls, wearing life jackets, struggled in Lake Manitoba after they entered the water and attempted to swim the 600 feet to shore in strong winds and current. Renata Bandel, 52, who was in the water closer to shore, swam to one of the girls, grasped her by the back of her life jacket and swam toward shore, towing her. Upon reaching wadable water, Bandel was met by others who assisted her in aiding the girl to the beach. Bandel was alerted to the presence of second girl in the water who was even farther from shore. Despite failing to see the girl’s precise location, Bandel reentered the water and swam out into the lake. Ultimately, she saw the second girl and swam to her. Bandel grasped the girl by the back of her life jacket and began to swim toward shore, towing her. Along the way they were picked up by a rescue boat, which returned Bandel and others to shore. The two girls rescued by Bandel were tired and cold, and one was taken to a hospital for treatment; they recovered. Bandel was cold and suffered from sore muscles; she also recovered.
91147 – 10236
91147-10236