Keith Finsterwald has been living along the banks of the Fraser River since last summer, and now thanks to his bravery in saving a woman from drowning after the truck she was riding in with her boyfriend crashed into the water. Finsterwald was unable to save the boyfriend, but did amazingly well in aiding the Vancouver Police in saving the woman despite not being able to swim.

The CBC quotes [cbc] him as saying about the accident:

“That was pretty harsh. I watched the truck go under. I watched the guy die. That was pretty harsh.”

Even aside from being a hero Finsterwald has a pretty interesting story.

He became a trapeze artist and during the 1990s’ was living in Las Vegas married and owning his own home. A car accident injuried his back and left him unable to work, and since then it’s been a series of steps from being a performer to being homeless living in a tent alongside the Fraser River where he collects scrap metals that he sells to a recycler earining $20 to $30 a day allowing him to live without being on welfare or taking handouts.

“I know it’s foolish, but I still have the performer pride. That’s an actual term for us when you’re a performer. You get ingrained in yourself a certain amount of pride. Even now when I walk, people might see me dressed like this, but I still walk like I’m somebody.”

“I had a pretty fabulous past, but where I’m at now is where I’m at now. That’s it. That’s me.

The Vancouver Police are considering Finsterwald for their order of merit award, their highest award for a civilian.