Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1977-05-02
Invested on: 1977-06-17
Vincent Bastien rescued a man from the third floor of an apartment house in Stratford, which was gutted by fire on 5 May 1976. Mr. Bastien and some of his fellow workers had seen smoke escaping from the building and investigated. The men shouted to arouse the tenants but got no response. Because of the smoke they could find no access to the top floors, and Mr. Bastien got the others to boost him on to a verandah roof. The rescuer then entered the house through a second floor window. After retreating a number of times for air he found the stairs leading to the attic rooms. Searching further, he found the victim in bed. The tenant was roused and both made their exit from the house.