KESQ photojournalist honored for saving a life during ‘700 year storm’
A valiant act of heroism by one of our own KESQ news team has been honored by the Boy Scouts of America with a rare award.
Christopher Flicker is a Den Leader for Cub Scout Troop 377 and the chief photojournalist for KESQ/CBS Local 2. Unbeknownst to him, the Boy Scouts of America gave him a very special and rare recognition. The Honor Medal is awarded to people for unusual heroism in saving a life.
“You have to practice what you preach and I try to lead by example with my son and my daughter and I am very honored,” said Flicker with tears in his eyes.
In September of 2014 Christopher Flicker was on assignment covering the 700 year flood, when he saw an elderly man fighting fast moving flood water in danger of drowning on Varner Road in Thousand Palms.
Flicker went into the rushing water and pulled him out.
“It’s actually the only time I ever put the camera down and I just had to act, I didn’t think that I could be that good of an example to my kids if I couldn’t help out,” said Flicker.
“He is showing us how to act fast and also to help others,” said Christopher’s son, Michael Flicker.
The elderly man who we only know as Skip passed away in his sleep almost a year to the day Flicker rescued him from the flood.
Christopher Flicker is a shining example of what the Scouts preach, and that’s to do your best. He does that everyday, with and without a camera.
