'He's my Superman': Estevan, Sask., man meets U.S. border agent who saved his life

When Keith Termine saw smoke in the distance while on duty in March 2021, the United States border patrol officer from Portal, N.D., knew he had to take action.

Terminedrove closer to the Short Creek Dam,southeast of Estevan, Sask., near the Canada-U.S.border, and found a two-hectare field on fire and Ken Murray frantically driving his burning truck back and forth.

"I'm glad he showed up," Murray told CBC News. "He's my Superman."

More than 20 people, including Termine,were bestowed bravery awards from the RoyalCanadian Humane Association (RCHA) at Government House in Regina on Friday.

The awards honourCanadians who perform acts of heroism to save or at least try to save someone's life.

Tim Popp, a Saskatchewan representative with the association, said Friday marked the first time in his two decades with the RCHA that such an honour was given to an American. He felt the award is well-deserved.

Back in March 2021,Murray waswelding a fence in his pasture when surrounding grass caught fire.He recalledbeing in shock after being heavily burned on his lower leg.

Murray was "seriously thinking" about loading into his truck to escape not realizing one side was on fire, he said.

"If I would have been in the truck, who knows?" Murray said.

WATCH|Man who was saved from a fire near Estevan, Sask. meets his rescuer for the first time:

Man who was saved from a fire near Estevan, Sask. meets his rescuer for the first time

11 months ago

Duration 1:54

Saskatchewan's Lieutenant Governor presented more than a dozen bravery awards to people. Usually, the recipients are from Saskatchewan or at least Canada, but this year was an exception.

Termine, meanwhile,watched the scene through his binoculars, recognizing it was "out of the norm," he said. Then, hewitnessedMurray jump out of his burning vehicle with flames encircling him.

The agent took aback way through a stubble field to rescue the man.

"Almost like a movie, I see him emerging from this billow of smoke, coming towardme," Terminesaid.Murray was in long underwear and only had half a sock left; the rest was torched by the flames.

"I got him in [my]truck and peeled off out of there."

Termine learned that Murray, in addition to his injuries, had a heart condition. Termine rushed the man to safety, so Murray's wife could take him to the hospital in Estevan, a city about 185 kilometres southeast of Regina.

"Mr. Murray had a medical condition, his pants were burnedoff him, and the flames weren't getting any smaller," said Popp, of the RCHA.

"If [Termine] didn't act, he would have died."

After delivering Murray to safety, Terminestayed behind to help with firefighting.

Drumming group, police officers among other award recipients

The Grey Buffalo Singers, a drumming group in Saskatoon, also received a bravery award for helping save a man's life in June 2021.

The group was performing live on TikTok, a social media app,when police approached them, asking if they could play louder so officers could talk him off the ledge ofthe nearby Broadway Bridge.

"The only thing that's making him happy right now is your music," a police officer can be heard saying during the TikTok live.

The drummers agreed and walked closer to play for the man. In the end, he stepped away from the bridge.

Jared Bird, Jeff Longman, and Joseph Twist were awarded with honourary testimonial certificates on Thursday.

Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty, a Cree man, handed out the awards Friday. He said he was especially touched by the drumming group's story.

"It's special because of who I am, but also because it makes you think about how that helped an individual think their way out of their own situation," Mirasty said.

"They made that connection through a cultural activity and, to me, that was pretty impressive."

Other award recipients included a handful of police officers and a man in North Battleford, Sask., a city about 130 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, who received bronze and silver medals for saving people from a burning apartment building in January 2022.

The building was evacuated, but17 residents and six emergency responders were sent to hospital.

RCMP later said arson charges were laid against a 22-year-old man and 42-year-old woman.