A Winter and COVID-19 Story To Warm Our Hearts

• Canadian couple, Gary and Selena Bath, answer distress call of stranded American family.
• Gary Bath drives American family to the Alaskan border close to 1,700 kilometers in snowy conditions.
• Good deed was done under strict COVID-19 precautions and sparked friendship between two families.

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With COVID-19, border restrictions between Canada and the USA are stricter. Americans are only allowed a short grace period to reach Alaska or face arrest.

That and stressful driving conditions are what went on Canadian ranger Gary Bath’s mind as he heeded an American family’s distress call.

Lynn Marchessault and her two children were on their way to join her husband in an Alaskan military base. She was behind the wheel of a pickup towing a large trailer when snow became heavier as they headed further north.  Even with studded snow tires and being a former military, Marchessault opted to pull off the road and stay at a highway lodge rather than risk her life and her children.

With strict COVID-19 protocols leaving her husband unable to help her, Marchessault decided to send out an online plea for help.  The distress call was fortunately picked up by Gary Bath and his wife Selena.  

The Baths were located in Fort St. John, British Columbia and the journey to reach Marchessault and bring them to their destination was close to 1,700 kilometers (roughly 1,056 miles).

Bath said, “I didn’t care how far it was, I just knew they needed help and they had a few short days to hit the border before they were going to get in trouble.”

The husband-and-wife team went to the inn and met up with the family. Selena went home while her husband Gray assisted the family on their journey to Alaska while observing COVID-19 precautions.

It was an uneventful trek but Bath was happy to safely deliver the family to the Alaskan border near Beaver Creek.    

With his mission accomplished, Bath now set off to his home with his wife.  But his good deed has already reached other good Samaritans who generously contributed for his airplane fare.  He did not have to drive back home alone!

Bath’s good deed has certainly made our hearts warm and even sparked what could be a lasting friendship between the two families.

“We are forever grateful to Gary and I’m thankful to his wife for bringing him up and loaning him out,” Marchessault said.

Source: Good News Network