Director of care saves young man's life at local hockey rink
Bonnie Brae employee 'heralded as a true hero by the community'
Friday February 12, 2010 -- Natalie Hamilton
One moment Paula Thomson was jumping up and down in the bleachers. The next she was on the bench saving a young man's life.

The director of care (DOC) was propelled into action when a linesman at her son's hockey game was accidentally hit in the neck by a skate during a scuffle between two players.

The Bonnie Brae Health Care Centre employee tells the Morning Report she acted on instinct during a Junior C hockey game at an arena in Woodstock.

"You're a nurse so you just react," Thomson says.

She was seated in the upper level of the rink when the incident occurred and she "could see he was severely injured." The blade sliced a main artery in the linesman's neck and when Thomson arrived on the bench the team trainers were applying towels to the area.

The DOC took control of the situation, providing guidance and successfully keeping the man conscious and people as calm as possible until paramedics arrived. The linesman underwent surgery to repair his carotid artery and is currently in rehabilitation.

Thomson's colleagues commend her for her actions and the Ontario Hockey League linesman credits the DOC for saving his life.

"Paula has been heralded as a true hero by the community, especially by the staff and residents at Bonnie Brae," says Lauren Watchorn, communications co-ordinator for Revera Inc., which manages the Tavistock long-term care home.

Following the incident on Dec. 29, 2009 and some sleepless nights, Thomson later contacted the hospital to see if she could find out his status. The young man's family had left their phone number for her.

Thomson has remained in touch with him and his family and when the linesman dropped the puck during Hockey Day in Canada celebrations in Stratford in January, they asked her to go with them.

The DOC helped push the linesman, who is using a wheelchair, to centre ice for the puck drop. He proceeded to tell the CBC's Coach's Corner hosts Don Cherry and Ron MacLean how Thomson saved his life and she was subsequently mentioned during a recent television broadcast.

"He's very appreciative," Thomson says. While her colleagues call her actions valiant, Thomson maintains she did what she was trained to do.

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