2023-09-12 10:40:00
In the right place at the right time… but with good intentions and courage that some have praised: during the public meeting of the Liège municipal council this Monday evening, the municipal authorities indeed presented a medal of honor “for act of bravery” to the young Nadir Bechekat, aged 27 and who, at the risk of his life, saved that of Sophia, a 70-year-old from Liège who had accidentally fallen into the Meuse on May 26.
A legitimate recognition which deeply moved Nadir… illegally staying in the territory and residing in Liège for a very short time. On the sidelines of the brief ceremony, he confided in us…
”I almost drowned twice”
“I am particularly happy with this medal, it is a great happiness for me, I really did not expect it,” he told us this Monday evening, moved. Because on May 26, 2023, everything happened very quickly, but at no time did he hesitate, as his translator, Hamid Mameri, who works at the Musée de la Boverie and who quickly helped the young man, confirmed to us. As an illegal resident in fact, Nadir might have hesitated to be noticed; but seeing Sofia in great difficulty in the waters of the river, he dove.
“I was sitting on a bench at the Quai Roi Albert and it was cold that day,” remembers Nadir, “then suddenly I saw a silhouette floating in the Meuse. I immediately took off my clothes and jumped.” Quickly, the young man joined Sophia, who had fallen into the river and whose time was running out. “I tried to grab her but it was very difficult, then I managed to bring her back to the edge. So, I put my arms around her for 15 minutes, while the emergency services brought us back.” A particularly long quarter of an hour, during which the young man put his life in danger: “I almost drowned twice”. But he held on, in the cold water and despite the tree branches carried by the current… for Sofia in particular.
“It was a happy outcome which allowed Sophia’s family to watch over her in the hospital where following 2 days in a coma, she continued her convalescence,” the authorities said once more this Monday evening.
Following this rescue, the young man initially avoided the police given his irregular situation. “But the next day, he was very ill,” Hamid explained to us. He was then able to count on the help of the firefighters (in particular), to obtain medical follow-up at the CPAS.
Nadir’s next fight will be to regularize his situation, he told us once more in the presence of Hamid who promised to help his young friend. This Monday evening, Nadir only thought of one thing: the pride of his loved ones remaining in Algeria, “my parents in particular who are both teachers”.
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