While proceeding to his assigned duties at CFB Suffield, Alberta on September 12, 1990, Cpl. Joseph Vincent Alain Falardeau attempted to rescue a passenger trapped in the flaming wreckage of a helicopter. First to arrive at the scene of the crash, Cpl. Falardeau immediately alerted the control station, then went to assist the pilot and co-pilot. Upon learning that a passenger was still trapped inside the wreckage, Cpl. Falardeau raced to the aircraft and, bare-handed, made several rescue attempts but was driven back repeatedly by the heat and flames. On one attempt, he was able to enter the fuselage but was unable to extricate the victim. When it became apparent that re-entry into the flaming wreck was impossible without fire-fighting equipment, Cpl. Falardeau proceeded to provide first aid and comfort to the two surviving crew members.