What started as a relaxing summer evening nearly turned into tragedy, but thanks to a man's quick actions, it became a story of bravery, remaining calm under pressure, and a child’s second chance.
On Friday, July 18th, Preston Houle, a 29-year-old diesel mechanic from Portage la Prairie, took his three children, Carson, 6, Kaylee, 4, and his eight-month-old baby Jackson, to Delta Beach with his fiancée, April. While in the water, he suddenly heard cries for help.
“We were just out for a barbecue with the kids,” Houle recalls. “It had been a long day, and we wanted to let the kids play a bit in the water before we got to cooking. We were in the water, which was quite far out at the time. We were probably 25 yards away when we heard the mother calling for help, and I just started running," he explains.
What he found was a two-year-old boy, unconscious and not breathing, after slipping beneath the water while playing. Without hesitation, Houle began CPR while April went to find cell service to call emergency services.
“I told her to go call 911, and she got service not too far from where we were, which was great. She was able to holler some instructions to me from the dispatcher," he continues.
Thankfully, Houle became CPR certified just last year and was able to resuscitate the boy before emergency responders arrived.
“Once he started breathing, we wrapped him in towels and waited with the family until the ambulance came," he says. "That's when the adrenaline kicked in. After seeing him leave, I was like, 'Wow, this really just happened.'"
The Portage la Prairie RCMP have publicly commended Houle for his quick thinking and heroic actions. Police confirmed that the boy was transported to the hospital in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. Houle says he’s grateful the child is okay.
“Knowing the boy is doing fine now is a big relief for me and, I'm sure, for the family as well."
The most difficult part, he says, was explaining the situation to his children, who had witnessed the rescue.
“My six-year-old had a lot of questions, some I couldn’t even answer at his age, but we talked about how staying close to the shore keeps us safe," he says.
For Houle, the incident only reaffirmed his long-time goal of becoming a first responder. He hopes to pursue that dream through the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS).
"I’ve always wanted to be a first responder, so I try to practice keeping the anxiety away in those types of situations. I just went into it with no hesitation and did what I had to do," he explains.
Manitoba, unfortunately, holds the distinction of leading the country in child drowning rates among children five and under, according to Lifesaving Society Manitoba. Houle says water safety awareness, especially in places like Delta Beach, is critical.
“The sandbars at Delta can drop off fast. It’s important to check the water, know where your kids are playing, and keep them in a safe area," he adds.
Despite the trauma of the day, Houle and his family still plan to return to Delta, with a little extra caution.
“I can still hear and picture everything that happened, but that won’t stop us from returning. The kids still want to go back and play, they just say they’ll stay close to the shore next time.”
Houle hopes this experience serves as a reminder for families to stay vigilant around water and to learn lifesaving skills.
“It doesn’t take long for something to go wrong, but maybe if more people know CPR, more lives can be saved."
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