Refugee who swam into Canada reunites with Winnipeg man who helped him
Yahya Samatar swam across Red River after year-long journey fleeing Somalia
A Somali refugee who swam across the Red River in an attempt to reach Canada was reunited with a man who helped bring him to safety on Thursday.
Yahya Samatar, 32, was found soaked and shivering near the Canada-U.S. border after fleeing Somalia in August 2014.
Samatar said he was a human-rights worker and faced persecution by al-Shabaab, a militant group linked to Al-Queda. He left his family, and paid smugglers to take him to Ethiopia, Brazil, Central America and the U.S.
- Refugee crisis, drowned Syrian boy shift focus of Canada's election campaign
- Refugee crisis: Canada must do more, Harper's policies have failed, rivals say
- Refugee crisis: Hungary reopens Budapest train station, triggering new standoff
"I was running from persecutions. I was running to save my life," said Samatar. "I didn't know more about the Canada. I only knew if I reached the Canada, I would be safe."
The Red River marked the final stage of his journey, almost a year after it began.
On an early morning in August 2015, he jumped in the water, which was around 7 C. He fought the current and managed to make it across.
"I was very tired. It was very cold. I didn't have any clothes at all, and that's the time I start [feeling scared for] my life," said Samatar.
After the exhausting swim, Samatar walked across the border and into a town, not knowing if he was on Canadian soil.
"I could see he was physically exhausted, and you could see that he'd been through a rough time recently – covered in mud," said Peter Chodkiewicz, who called emergency crews.
Samatar was given medical attention and then taken to a border station.
Canada Border Services called Hospitality House Refugee Ministry in Winnipeg, and they've been helping him since then. He's staying at a home for refugees in the city, and despite his fear of deportation, he said he's been comforted by the kindness of Canadians.
Chodkiewicz hopes Samatar can gain refugee status in Canada.
"I can't imagine circumstances so bad that I would go on an odyssey like that," he said.
Samatar's refugee hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30.
CBC Radio's DNTO is working on a special one-hour feature about Yahya Samatar's journey that will air Saturday, Sept. 12 at 3 p.m.