Honoured for saving lives

James Follett of Placentia is a hero to a number of people, but especially to Southeast native Shawn O'Keefe.

When O'Keefe was a young boy of six years, he had fallen into the water at the breakwater, across from O'Reilly House. Mr. Follett was driving his children back from a dentist's visit when he noticed a group of people gathered at that very location. According to O'Keefe, the water was at half tide and so was moving quite swiftly. Neighbours were there, holding O'Keefe's mother and sister Michelle back from leaping into the frigid water to save him.

O'Keefe said he remembered getting up onto the rail of the breakwater where his friend was playing with the fish in the water. His friend asked him to move down a bit, and when he did, he slipped and fell into the water. At first, he said, the air trapped inside his coat held him afloat but it eventually lost the air and because he was unable to swim, he was in real danger of drowning.

When Mr. Follett realized what had happened, he moved swiftly, and using a rope that another man had, he tied it to himself and, fully clothed, jumped into the gut. He reached the six-year old and swimming under him, instructed the young boy to hold on, and realizing he would have to swim with the boy, he untied the rope, and swam to the cove in front of the Placentia Cottage Hospital a few hundred metres away.

The boy was admitted to the hospital where he stayed overnight but luckily for him, he had not taken on much seawater and had not lost consciousness. O'Keefe was released the next day.

Mr. Follett was in the right place at the right time, but also had the wherewithal to leap into action, saving the boy's life.

But Mr. Follett didn't stop there.

He was also able to help save a number of other lives over the years including Anita Counsel of Red Island when Mr. Follett was working on board the MV Petit Forte in Placentia Bay, and Harold Leonard of Placentia who fell through the ice at Placentia Swans. Mr. Follett also saved Harold Leonard's brother Gerard's life, who was accidentally shot while hunting. Mr. Follett used a boat to make a path through the ice to reach Gerard Leonard.

Mr. Follett also rescued his own son's life when Tommy fell into the water at Claudius Harbour, Mr. Follett's childhood home.

O'Keefe said all these rescues are good examples of the kind of man Mr. Follett is, that he would risk his own life numerous times to help others. He wanted to ensure Mr. Follett was recognized for these good deeds, and realizes the impact he has made on so many people.

"On the day (he saved me), Mr. Follett was driven home in the trunk of Mr. Mooney's taxi because (he) didn't want to get the taxi wet," said O'Keefe. "It is an indication of Mr. Follett's nature and perhaps one of the requirements for the selfless actions that are sometimes needed to save others. He placed the needs of others ahead of his own. And equally important, Mr. Follett was able to think and act quickly and unhesitatingly."

It's been 40 years since Mr. Follett saved the life of Shawn O'Keefe, who wanted to officially thank him and recognize him as a person to whom he owes his life.

O'Keefe sent a letter outlining all Mr. Follett's heroic deeds to the Lifesaving Society in St. John's, who sent O'Keefe a certificate to present to the man. O'Keefe then let the families of the other people Mr. Follett saved, along with a number of dignitaries including Placentia Mayor Bill Hogan, know about the presentation, which took place at the same location O'Keefe was saved, 40 years to the day.

Mr. Follett, humble, didn't have much to say, but accepted the recognition gracefully.

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