As part of the annual police recognition ceremony, Monday at the École nationale de police du Québec, in Nicolet, a man awaiting a double lung transplant was honored for having made an effort at the limit of his abilities to save a 3-year-old child.

• Read also: 12 shadow heroes honored

• To read also: A policewoman saved by her cold blood

Samuel Boisvert, from Quebec, received a citation of honor for going to the limit of his strength.

On April 21, 2021, his very precarious state of health did not prevent him from coming to the aid of little Gabriel, 3, who was choking on a pine casserole.

“I heard his mother calling for help. I went down quickly, I jumped a fence because I couldn't open it and I did CPR,” he explained.

Ailing

What makes the act all the more heroic is that Mr. Boisvert, suffering from cystic fibrosis, was awaiting a double lung transplant.

“I had 20% lung function. I was getting breathless walking around my apartment. I must have needed 15 minutes to catch my breath. It's a far superior effort to what I was doing at the time," he added.

And since his immune system was weakened, coming into contact with other people in this time of COVID was also risky.

"Even a cold could have been dangerous, but at the time I didn't think about that," said Mr. Boisvert.

Everyone healthy

According to the paramedics, keeping the child moving all this time probably saved his life, explained the presenter during the introductory message.

“I do not want to seem to say that this honor is not appreciated, but the most important thing for me is that Gabriel is well,” said Samuel Boisvert.

The latter was transplanted in September at the CHUM and recovered very well from this intervention.