Rinelle Harper : Beaten teen meets men who rescued her along river

A Winnipeg teen who was brutally assaulted and left to die next to a river was reunited with one of her rescuers Thursday.

A silent Rinelle Harper presented one of her rescuers, Sean Vincent, with a soapstone polar bear carving as a gift of thanks this afternoon.

Construction worker Sean Vincent told the teen, who was beaten and left for dead earlier this month, that she is a hero and he would always cherish her gift.

A second construction worker, Ed Mehanovic, who helped organize the meeting with Rinelle and her family, was delayed by work Thursday and had to reschedule his meeting with Harper and her family, MKO Grand Chief David Harper said.

Police say Rinelle was severely beaten and tossed into the Assiniboine River near the Midtown Bridge Nov. 7. She managed to get out, only to be attacked again with a baseball bat.

Vincent and Mehanovic found her lying near the river and cared for her until help could arrive.

Two suspects — a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy — are facing charges of attempted murder and sexual assault.

Agencies/Canadajournal