Homeless man who saved drowning boy called hero
A couple of weeks ago, Faron Hall was just another one of the thousands of homeless people trying to scrap out a living on the streets of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
He was, by his own admission, a drunk who sleep on the banks of the Red River and ate what he could find.
But he wasn’t always that way. He used to have his act together. Seven years ago, he worked as a teachers aide, had a home, a life. But the heartbreak from the murders of his mother and sister drove him to the bottle and the bottle drove him to the street.
For the better part of a decade, Hall was one of the millions of homeless people in North America - faceless, nameless, one of the people most of us avoid if we have the choice.
But last week, Hall came to the attention of the world when he put his life on the line to save the life of a boy who had fallen into the Red River. Hall told reporters he didn’t think twice about helping the boy.
"That was it. I couldn't really live with myself if I just let him go by. He was in dire straits, to be honest.”
He dove into the raging river, battling the fierce current until he finally managed to grab the boy, who was struggling so much Hall had to hit him repeatedly on the forehead to calm him before they both drowned. After several minutes, Hall managed to drag him back to shore.
Since then he’s been called a hero and has been the focus of media attention in Winnipeg and the world, something he’s not quite used to.
"It's overwhelming," Hall told a group of reporters who had gathered on the bank of the Red River close to where he usually beds down for the night. "I just live the simple life, get by day by day."
Soon afterwards, people were lining up to shower him with cheap trinkets. Personally, I think that’s just about easing their consciences and alleviating their shame.
Their shame that this man, who has nothing and owes nothing to anyone, without the slightest hesitation put his life at risk to save someone he had never met, while most of them would have probably stood and watched the kid drown.
It makes these people feel better about themselves to call him a hero, to shake his hand – though last week the vast majority of those pushing and shoving to get their photos taken with Hall wouldn’t have crossed the road to spit in his face if he was on fire.
Next week when all of this is forgotten and Hall is sleeping on the banks of the Red River again, where will these people be? Most likely not hanging out with him and his homeless friends, that’s for sure.
As for Hall, he just wants to be left to himself again, but he hopes some of this attention will shine a light on the plight of the homeless.
"All us homeless people, we're not all stupid idiots. We're not all bums who dress dirty. Don't judge the way we dress, judge right here, in the mind and in the heart,” he said.
"Show compassion. Not pity, 'cause I believe none of them want pity.
"I just treat people the way I want to be treated, which is with respect and understanding."
Sounds like most people could learn something from Mr. Hall.
He was, by his own admission, a drunk who sleep on the banks of the Red River and ate what he could find.
But he wasn’t always that way. He used to have his act together. Seven years ago, he worked as a teachers aide, had a home, a life. But the heartbreak from the murders of his mother and sister drove him to the bottle and the bottle drove him to the street.
For the better part of a decade, Hall was one of the millions of homeless people in North America - faceless, nameless, one of the people most of us avoid if we have the choice.
But last week, Hall came to the attention of the world when he put his life on the line to save the life of a boy who had fallen into the Red River. Hall told reporters he didn’t think twice about helping the boy.
"That was it. I couldn't really live with myself if I just let him go by. He was in dire straits, to be honest.”
He dove into the raging river, battling the fierce current until he finally managed to grab the boy, who was struggling so much Hall had to hit him repeatedly on the forehead to calm him before they both drowned. After several minutes, Hall managed to drag him back to shore.
Since then he’s been called a hero and has been the focus of media attention in Winnipeg and the world, something he’s not quite used to.
"It's overwhelming," Hall told a group of reporters who had gathered on the bank of the Red River close to where he usually beds down for the night. "I just live the simple life, get by day by day."
Soon afterwards, people were lining up to shower him with cheap trinkets. Personally, I think that’s just about easing their consciences and alleviating their shame.
Their shame that this man, who has nothing and owes nothing to anyone, without the slightest hesitation put his life at risk to save someone he had never met, while most of them would have probably stood and watched the kid drown.
It makes these people feel better about themselves to call him a hero, to shake his hand – though last week the vast majority of those pushing and shoving to get their photos taken with Hall wouldn’t have crossed the road to spit in his face if he was on fire.
Next week when all of this is forgotten and Hall is sleeping on the banks of the Red River again, where will these people be? Most likely not hanging out with him and his homeless friends, that’s for sure.
As for Hall, he just wants to be left to himself again, but he hopes some of this attention will shine a light on the plight of the homeless.
"All us homeless people, we're not all stupid idiots. We're not all bums who dress dirty. Don't judge the way we dress, judge right here, in the mind and in the heart,” he said.
"Show compassion. Not pity, 'cause I believe none of them want pity.
"I just treat people the way I want to be treated, which is with respect and understanding."
Sounds like most people could learn something from Mr. Hall.
posted by Street Wise Guy | 2:04 PM
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