An island man who stopped by to visit Salt Spring’s RCMP detachment Thursday, July 17, did so not because of an emergency or to report a crime, officials said — rather, he wanted to personally thank an officer whose kind actions months earlier likely saved the man’s life.
On Friday, April 4, Salt Spring Island RCMP Const. Kevin Lloyd had been called to a residence to check on the man’s well-being — at the request of his out-of-province family, according to Salt Spring Island RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Clive Seabrook, who said they had not heard from their elderly father in a couple of months. When police arrived, they found the man appeared to have been living in unhealthy conditions.
The man was initially reluctant — “Respectfully, he wasn’t having anything to do with it,” said Sgt. Seabrook — and was adamant that he was fine and needed no help. But Const. Lloyd stayed, continuing to speak with the man for over an hour. Eventually he built a rapport between them, and the man agreed to be transported to the hospital by ambulance for his health to be checked.
Months later, he stopped by the detachment to show his appreciation for Const. Lloyd and the detachment staff — and to share his medical treatment and diagnosis. It turned out, according to Sgt. Seabrook, the man had been unknowingly bleeding internally for some time, and according to his doctors would have succumbed within the next 24 hours had it not been for Const. Lloyd’s life-saving intervention, convincing him to get treated.
“What started as a standard call became something far more profound,” said C/Supt. Bruce Singer, commanding officer for the Island District RCMP. “Despite being met with hesitation and resistance, Const. Lloyd stayed present, didn’t rush, didn’t retreat but instead listened, showed compassion and built a connection that ultimately saved his life.
“This is what ‘Beyond the Mission’ truly means,” he continued, “acting not just out of obligation, but out of care and commitment to another human being.”