On August 26, 1984, John Louis Bertrand saw a small truck overturn and catch fire. Despite his fear of an explosion, he hurried to the scene of the accident and saw a man trapped in the vehicle trying desperately to free himself. Disregarding the flames which enveloped the truck, Mr. Bertrand tried to break the windshield by kicking it with all his might. Twice the flames forced him back. When he had succeeded in making an opening, he seized the victim and pulled him halfway out before losing his grip. He grasped the man again, managed to extricate him from the vehicle and dragged him about three metres from the blaze. With his hands he beat out the flames on the victim's clothing, and then moved him out of danger. Since help was slow in arriving, Mr. Bertrand put the injured man in his own truck and drove him to hospital.