Michelle Curtis hailed a hero after dying during Broad Cove Beach rescue
CBC News | Posted: August 4, 2015 10:07 PM | Last Updated: August 5, 2015
Woman collapsed onto beach after rescue but could not be resuscitated
The devastated sister of a 45-year-old woman, who died trying to save several children from a riptide at Broad Cove Beach in Cape Breton on Monday, is remembering her as a hero.
On Monday, Michelle Curtis was at the beach with her sister, Kendra Baldwin, and their children. At the first sign of trouble, Baldwin said her sister was one of the first to try to help.
"Her son was out there, and a few of the kids that were with us and our son and her daughter was out there as well," said Baldwin.
"My sister and one other gentlemen were the first two in the water. The first two out to the kids."
Baldwin, Curtis and two other men managed to rescue the children from the rough water, but then Baldwin says she heard her sister cry for help.
"So I swam over to her and I swam with her," Baldwin said. "I told her to take deep breaths everything was going to be OK."
Baldwin and the two men helped Curtis to the beach, where she then collapsed. A friend performed CPR until emergency services arrived, but Curtis died at the scene.
"I took comfort in the fact the doctor that worked on her, knew her, he worked with her at the hospital. One of the nurses was a good friend," Baldwin said.
"The other nurse knew her as well. Worked with her for six years in palliative care. So I took comfort in that they did everything that they could."
An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death.
"I am devastated, she was my best friend," Baldwin said. "She absolutely is a hero. She saved … the kids."
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday in New Waterford.