Gord McKeever has dealt with all kinds of hotel guests over the years, but his work in preventing a guest from committing suicide has received special recognition from the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
McKeever was one of five civilians to receive the St. John’s Lifesaving Award during a presentation ceremony at the RCMP’s E Division headquarters on Sept. 11.
The suicide attempt took place on May 24, 2001. Am intoxicated guest at McKeever’s Whistler Resort and Club called the front desk that evening and said he was going to kill himself. McKeever rushed to the room and found the man with a kitchen knife in his hand.
The man sliced his forearm with the knife before McKeever grabbed it away from him.
The man grabbed two more steak knives, which McKeever also took away without a struggle.
McKeever then kept the man away from the kitchen for approximately half an hour until RCMP officers arrived. However, during that time the man also swallowed a bottle of pills and attempted to get hold of a pair of scissors.
In addition to the five civilians recognized at the Sept. 11 ceremony, 31 awards were presented to RCMP officers for duties ranging from international peace keeping to work on the Canada-U.S. border.
Deputy Commissioner B.A. Busson of E Division and Lieutenant Commander King Wan of St. John’s presented the awards.
