Two former colleagues who met years ago never imagined their paths would cross again when one came to the aid of the other after he was stricken by a stroke.

After Pc Larry Dean was honoured with a Bermuda Bravery Award on Wednesday, he and Dennis Rodrigues spoke with The Royal Gazette about that fateful summer day.

On September 16, 2001, former reserve Police officer Mr. Rodrigues said he was enjoying a family picnic on Darrell's Island when he was accidentally kicked while he played a game of football.

"A large blood clot formed on my leg and and I started to lose sensation," the 38-year-old from Devonshire told this paper.

"So I decided to go to Flatt's by boat and meet my wife so that she could take me to the hospital."

Mr. Rodrigues said family members offered to accompany him for the boat ride but he declined "being the typical hard-headed type", he said with a laugh.

So, according to him, he went on his way to meet his wife, but unfortunately did not make his planned destination. As he approached the Deep Bay area in Pembroke, the father of two said his left hand slipped off the steering wheel.

"I realised that something wasn't right," he said.

Mr. Rodrigues said instinctively he slowed down his boat, and within a few seconds he collapsed.

But luckily, his radio was in reach, enabling him to call Harbour Radio for help. Then, he said, he tried to call his wife using his cell phone, but he could not reach her.

"The next thing I remember is being placed into an ambulance," he recalled.

Pc Dean said he remembered that rainy day well.

"When we got to the boat, it was moving so we realised that someone was assisting him," he said. "Mr. Rodrigues was sitting up but his head was slumped so I was concerned about him getting air."

Pc Dean said at this point Mr. Rodrigues did not have a pulse, so resuscitation was started on him. "It was very difficult to do as it was pouring with rain and the boat was moving to shore.

"Before he became responsive, I thought it was quite possible that he was dead."

Fifteen months later, Mr. Rodrigues has fully recovered.

"I've been treated both locally and abroad and there is no conclusive evidence of what brought on the stoke, but doctors suspect that a part of the blood clot in my leg broke off and quickly travelled to my brain," he said.

While he said the stroke had not changed a lot of his daily activities, Mr. Rodrigues admitted that it made him take a different look at life.

"It made me realise that life's worth living."