He may have lost a treasured watch but Glenroy Hackett has gained the thanks of a grateful nation for saving the lives of six people from drowning during his 37 years as a beach ranger.
Until now, his efforts have never been heavily publicized. But Hackett was no longer an unsung hero on Tuesday as he stood before Governor General Dame Sandra Mason at Government House to receive his Barbados Bravery Medal for his efforts in saving the life of a young university student while swimming at a West Coast beach a few years ago.
Moments after receiving his award, Hackett told journalists that he was stationed at Sandy Lane Beach when a beachgoer alerted him that a woman had gotten into difficulty while in the water.
“And when I got up there I saw the lady out there in the water and I just took off all my ranger clothes and just took away a surfboard from a guy because I am from Bathsheba and I generally surf, he recalled.
“I saw it was a rip tide and I don’t know how I get out there so quickly but when I got out there I say ‘lady don’t get frightened’ and I push the board at her and I told her to hold on.
“I told her we are going to go ashore, don’t get frightened. But we were way out you know, and I was frightened too. And I saw a wave coming and I told her to hold on tight, ‘I will carry you ashore’.
“So I put myself to the back of the board and push her up so that I would sink the board down and the wave would take her to shore. When we got that wave I don’t know how I got to the shore, but when we got to shore the lady jumped off the board and I don’t know where she went. I think fright had her.”
Hackett said though he has never seen the young lady since the incident, shortly after it happened he eventually found out that she was a St Lucian student of the UWI at Cave Hill.
He said: “I never got her name. I never met her again. All I know is that she was from St Lucia and that she was a student of the university. I would like to meet her someday, but I think that saving her life to me is more important than meeting her because I know how parents feel when they come to the beach and see their loved ones drown(ed).
“The only regret I have actually is that I had a beautiful Movado (watch) I got as a gift and that got lost. But after studying it, I said life is more than a Movado watch and honestly I felt good.
“I went back down the beach, took up my clothes and went home. I was nervous. I went home and trembled badly because I think the adrenalin was deep in my body. It was a very eventful day, I must say.”
All told, Hackett has saved six lives throughout his years as a ranger.
He told reporters: “I have been saving people for years. One time I saved a lady at Sandy Lane. I run cross the beach and jump in with all of my ranger clothes. My clothes, shoes, watch, everything and I grabbed this lady and pull her ashore and that lady thanked me.
“And she was thankful and one of the managers at the beach house really appreciated it too. But it is a customary thing for me as my guy here could tell you I am a Bathsheba man and I know the sea very well.”
The St Thomas resident shared the special occasion with his daughter Chloe and Member of Parliament Cynthia Forde who were present.
Hackett’s 92-year-old mother Gervis Isabelle Forde-Parris also received a 2020 Independence Award for her social and economic contribution as a hawker in Barbados for many years and her community spirit.
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)
