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Residents owe their lives to local heroes by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver 11 | Wednesday, October 9, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com As it turned out, a near fatal mountain bike accident wound up being the best thing for Adrian Filangi's career. Had he not danced with mortality on the afternoon of May 5, 2010 when his bike slammed into a tree in a ravine, the Holy Trinity grad probably would now be studying kinesiology at the University of Guelph. Instead, the Oakville man is about to start a new job with TSN as a video editor after graduating this past June from the College of Sports in Toronto. Filangi, 21, was among those honoured on Thursday (Oct. 3) at Halton's Celebration of Life awards night. The event is held once every four years to recognize the heroic efforts of Halton's organizations, paramedics and bystanders in saving lives. Sharing the night with Filangi were paramedics Tim Nykamp, Alyson Coolen, Peter McMurrough, Paul Bagley and Aubrey Deally, all of whom saved his life. "It's kind of crazy how things happen for a reason. I know it's a cliché but it's true," said Filangi, who spent more than a week in an induced coma because of his devastating injuries. He suffered brain trauma because of a fractured skull. His vocal chord was severed and he shattered his left femur. "If my accident never happened, I'd probably be finishing off my fourth year at Guelph," Filangi said. "But I took a year off because of my brain injury. Now I'm going to be working at TSN." Filangi and his friend Taylor Macintosh were riding their bikes down Oakville's infamous Three Hill off Neyagawa Boulevard near Lions Creek when his right foot suddenly came off the pedal on a steep descent into a ravine and he struck a tree. Macintosh called 911. If my accident never happened, I'd probably be finishing off my fourth year at Guelph. But I took a year off because of my brain injury. Now I'm going to be working at TSN. while paramedics stabilized him. They then carried him back up the 1.5-km hill to a waiting ambulance. Filangi spent two months in hospital. He was initially told he likely wouldn't regain his voice for at least a year. But three months later he was talking again. Adrian Filangi see Halton on p.12 Shhhh... Oakville's Best Kept Secret. Unique one of a kind piece! Lady's Hand made Platinum & 14kt. white gold bale open wire flower motif brooch/pendant, 2 custom carved natural rubies, 1 round brilliant cut diamond 3.30ct., VS1, J-K, 24 marquise cut diamonds 1.70ct., VS-SI, 62 round brilliant cut diamonds, 3.10ct., SI, G-H-I (Gemscan Replacement Value $97,000) You can have this one only, for $48,000* Oakville's Brian Hoffman, a survivor of a heart attack while cycling in Oakville got a chance to meet two of the three bystanders who came to his aid and stayed with him until paramedics arrived. Hoffman gives Myrtle Benjamin, left, and Amy Donaldson a big hug as a `thank you'. |Graham Paine - Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) The Highest Quality, The Lowest Price. Guaranteed. 309 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville 905.339.7604 · www.omnijewelcrafters.com *Subject to prior sale and may be terminated at any time. He didn't want to leave his friend in the middle of nowhere. But Macintosh had to meet paramedics at the top of the hill so he could direct them to the location of his seriously-injured friend. An air ambulance was called but was cancelled because of a pending thunderstorm so paramedics made a 1.5-kilometre trek down into the steep ravine. As rain fell, a tarp was held over Filangi 427 SPEERS RD. UNIT #18 (905) 337-8338 Barre Life Studio Get a dancer's body... without the dance! Monthly Promotions Available Book your complimentary session today. Visit us at www.barrelife.ca