A group of teenager got involved in a fight at Salem Road and Rossland Road on a cold March evening in 2016. Officers were called to the scene to break up the melee.
When Cst. Jack Stelwagen arrived at the scene, he saw multiple teenagers running away. His eyes were drawn to one young man, who had dropped to his knees and hunched over. Cst. Stelwagen hurried to the victim’s side to check on his wellbeing. He realized the young man had a severe arterial bleed.
Immediately, Cst. Stelwagen started first aid and applied pressure to the wound while coordinating other units that began to arrive. He relayed suspect information and details to officers on scene all the while assisting the injured male. Officers would later describe how calm he remained throughout the ordeal.
Cst. Stelwagen stayed with the victim throughout the ordeal, even after the arrival of EMS on the scene.
Officers were later told by hospital staff that the young man had lost 60 per cent of the blood in his body. Without Cst. Stelwagen’s quick and calm actions, the victim would have bled to death.
