Hero's amazing reunion - three decades on

A teenage hero who saved a three-year-old from drowning nearly four decades ago has been recognized after a chance meeting between his mother and the girl he saved. 

Paul Farrington was presented with a Bravery Award by the Governor last night for his lifesaving actions in 1977.

But it was also the first time he had met Calvina Wilson; the young girl who he had saved at Shelly Bay when he was 15.

The incredible story came to light after a chance meeting between Mr Farrington’s mother, Christine, and Ms Wilson at the Hamilton dental surgery where Ms Wilson works, earlier this year.

Ms Wilson told the Bermuda Sun: “I was talking about an occasion where I was saved by a young man at Shelly Bay when I was little, and she mentioned that her son had saved a young girl there a long time ago.

“I can’t remember what happened that day, but my mom would always tell me about it and use it as a lesson to be careful in the sea.

“I never met the boy who saved my life and never thought I would.

“But Mrs Farrington later brought in the newspaper clipping from back in 1977 and it was then we suddenly realized her son had been the one who saved my life.

“I was totally amazed. It was crazy. I still can’t believe it. It’s right that he should be recognized for what he did way back then.

“I did call Paul after we had realized it was him who saved me to say thank you, but last night was the first time I had met him.

“My young son Jahbarri came too because he wanted to  meet the man who saved his mother’s life.”

Mrs Farrington added: “I get goose bumps when I think about it.

“When I heard Calvina talking about this time she was saved while I was at the surgery my ears just stuck up. I was in the right place at the right time. It’s unbelievable really.”

Mr Farrington had just been presented with his Bronze Life Saving Medal in 1977 when his skills were called into action.

The 51-year-old said: “I was ordering a cheeseburger when my brother came rushing in and told me a little girl was drowning.

“By the time I got out she was on the beach and turning blue. I tried to resuscitate her and after a few breaths she came around.

“It was very lucky to be honest, especially as I had only just qualified and then I was suddenly faced with a real life emergency.”

He added: “My mum kept the newspaper clipping from way back then and it’s lucky she did. 

“I never got the chance to meet the little girl afterwards. And it is amazingly fortunate that after all this time we have finally met.”

Other awardees

Mr Farrington was one of nine people to be recognized at the Bermuda Bravery Awards at Government House last night.

• Richard Dickinson was presented with an award for rescuing Eugene Broadley from Coots Pond in St George’s in 2010.

• PC Gavin Richardson and WPC Tiffany DeSilva were given awards for dashing into a blazing stables in Warwick and leading horses to safety in February of last year.

• Derek Jones, Lucius Lindo and Errol Vessell were recognized for risking their lives to help a family whose car skidded off the road by the Fairmont Southampton’s Golf Course and was left hanging precariously from the cliff edge.

• Dr Devon Binns was also presented with an award for performing the Heimlich Maneuver on Teddy Chapman at Waterlot in 2011 while he was choking on a piece of food. 

• Finally Barrie Cohen was also recognized at the awards ceremony, although he has since left the island, for saving Mr Chapman’s life.