Red Cross Recognizes Plymouth Man with 2013 Good Samaritan Award

Geoffrey Racette of Plymouth has been named a recipient of the 2013 American Red Cross Heroes Awards. One of 10 Heroes in the Northern Minnesota Red Cross Region, Racette will receive the Youth Good Samaritan award at the annual American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, June 6, for being an individual under the age of 21 who displayed courage and caring upon encountering an unusual, significant or unexpected incident. 

Racette was directly responsible for locating and helping to rescue a missing woman whose vehicle was submerged in a frozen pond off the road. Stepping onto the ice, Racette noticed the vehicle had been turned on its side and after calling out to see if anyone needed assistance, realized a woman was trapped inside unable to call for help.

Quickly flagging down passing motorists, Racette and others called 911 and did what they could until emergency services arrived to extricate the woman from her vehicle in which she had been trapped for nearly 18 hours.

“Due to his keen observation and willingness to set aside his own personal safety,” says Plymouth Police Chief Mike Goldstein, “his actions clearly saved the life of another who was stranded in dire straits.”

Racette and the other 2013 Heroes will be honored at the annual American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, June 6, at Target Field Legends Club in Minneapolis. The public is invited to attend, help recognize local heroes and support their local American Red Cross. 

Tickets and table sponsorships are available online at redcross.org/mn/minneapolisor by calling (612) 872-3207.

The American Red Cross Heroes Awards raise awareness about ordinary people whose extraordinary actions exemplify the Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Each hero was nominated by a member of the community and selected by the 2013 Heroes Breakfast Nomination Committee.