"We just did what was right. We saw something happening, and we just couldn't let it go on."
Nora McLearn downplays her courage, but the Royal Canadian Humane Association thought enough of it to award her a silver medal for bravery after saving a woman from an axe attack in Swift Current last spring.
Her grandson Chace Riley of Neville received a bronze medal for his role, while Swift Current's Danielle Armstrong was awarded with an honorary testimonial certificate.
On May 13th, 2024, McLearn and Riley were driving on Chaplin Street when they witnessed a woman being attacked with an axe.
"He told me grandma, pull over," McLearn said of her grandson. "Pull over, that lady just attacked the other lady with an axe. I pulled over and you could clearly see the victim bleeding. So I just got out and walked up the street and told the lady that was doing the attack you can't do that. Then I asked the other lady if she needed help, and that's when the woman that was doing the attacking came after me."
The RCHA say the victim suffered a wound to her head and was also struck on the arms and hands while defending herself.
The attacker then hit McLearn with the axe, injuring her hand and wrist. When Riley saw his grandmother being attacked, McLearn said he came to help. Their intervention allowed the original victim to get away.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of him, "McLearn said. "He's only 14. First to see it and to tell me grandma you gotta help and then to come to my rescue. I was amazed that he would even do it. You don't see too many kids that age that are willing to put themselves into that position. And he didn't even hesitate."
The RCHA post noted the accused continued to chase the two around the yard until Riley was able to flag down Danielle Armstrong who picked up McLearn.
McLearn is also the mayor and fire chief of Neville.