by Sophie Kuijper Dickson
Trois-Rivières
May 13, 2024
Two Luskville residents were recently honoured with civilian awards in recognition of the help they offered in rescuing a paraglider off the side of the Lusk escarpment last spring.
Siblings Tait and Rae Becke, who grew up on Venturing Hills Farm at the base of the Gatineau hills, were called to action on Apr. 27, 2023 when a paraglider crashed into the cliffs behind their farm.
The siblings, both intimately familiar with how to navigate the cliffs, led police officers first . . .
on the scene up the escarpment to the site of the accident as they waited for first responders to arrive, nearly three hours later.
Rae helped secure the paraglider to the side of the cliff, administered basic first aid, and along with another paraglider on the scene, kept him safe until a helicopter could arrive.
Meanwhile, Tait made several trips running up and down the mountain to bring police officers and first responders to the scene, and later to bring desperately needed oxygen tanks.
Tait travelled to the province’s police academy in Trois-Rivières to receive the award, officially known as a Citation of Honour, on May 13, alongside MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais police officers Saguay D. Lafond and Alexandre Piché, who also responded to the accident last year.
Rae Becke was unable to attend the ceremony as she was on a rock climbing trip in Utah.
