Heroic Fort Albany man saves three people

A Fort Albany resident is a celebrated hero after saving the lives of a mother and her two children from perishing in an afternoon house fire, say Nishnawbe Aski Police. The incident was reported to have taken place shortly after 5 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2004. "Ralph Wheesk was the first person to see the house to be engulfed in smoke and flames," says the police report. "Ralph then went to tell his uncle David Wheesk that there was a fire at Martha Metatawabin's," it says. The two ran across the street together to the burning residence. David went into the burning residence and brought the two children out to safety after his nephew kicked the door open. He returned into the blaze a second time to wake Metatawabin as she was sleeping on the livingroom couch and brought her to safety as well. Neither the children, Ralph, nor the mother suffered any injuries during the incident. David Wheesk, however, was treated and later released from the local hospital for smoke inhalation. After his release from hospital, David "Dave" Wheesk was presented with an Award for Bravery during Fort Albany's Annual Christmas Feast on Dec. 22. -JH