Farmer uses turban to save drowning teenage girl in Kamloops

A quick-thinking farmer in Kamloops, B.C., used his turban to save a teen who had fallen into the cold waters of a nearby river.

Avtar Hothi and his son, Paul, were on their farm near Heffley Creek when they noticed a teen struggling in the North Thompson River close totheir farm.

"I'm very proud of him," said PaulHothi, referring to his65-year-old dad.

"We were trying to look around for branches, and he just sprung to action, took off his turban right away, threw it in the waterand pulled her to shore."

Paul Hothisaidthe girl was about 14 or 15 years old. He doesn't know how she fell into the river, but said the water is very cold this time of year.

"She was just in shock at the moment we pulled her out of the water. She was freezing basically," he said. "[We] quickly covered her up with a blanket to warm her up."

Hisfather then drove the girl back to her grandmother's house a few minutes from their farm.

Paul Hothi saidhis father, who is Sikh, doesn't usually takehis turban off outside their home.

"It's a religious thing. You have to keep your head covered," he explained.

The girl's relatives confirmed a member of the family was rescued after falling in the river, but didn't want to speak to media about the incident.