VBT honors Gillespie, McKelvey, Walters, Floro for saving a life

At the beginning of the June 6 regular meeting of the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees, Public Safety Director Gregory Laurain presented life-saving awards to the four people who worked together to save the life of Catherine Sandifer on April 28 at Sandy’s Marina.
Director Laurain said Kevin Gillespie of Sandy’s Marina in VBT and Shawn McKelvey, a resident of the city of Belleville, ran to the aid of Sandifer who was in the passenger seat of her vehicle that had rolled into Belleville Lake at the marina. The vehicle had spun around in the water and the passenger side window was pressed tight against the dock.
Gillespie and McKelvey were unable to pull her out as the vehicle sunk into the lake, so they held onto her from the dock to keep her head above water so she wouldn’t drown.
Fire Fighter Daniel Walters and Fire Department Captain Ken Floro arrived. They put a rope around her and were able to get her out.
The woman is in her 70s and recently had surgery. She was not able to help herself out.
“They all worked without regard for their own safety,” said Director Laurain. “It was an extraordinary effort for all involved.”
He presented certificates to Gillespie, McKelvey, and Walters and to the children of Capt. Floro because Floro was unable to be present for the meeting. Standing in for their father were Anthony, Vincent, Sophia, and Francesca.
After the meeting, Jackie Floro said her husband had stressed to the family that if the civilians hadn’t done everything they did there would have been a very different end to this story.
Some people don’t feel they can step forward to help, but these men did and that is why Sandifer is alive today, she said.