Cst. Gernot Fischer saved a woman from drowning in the Rideau River in Ottawa on 8 December 1977. The distraught woman had jumped from a bridge and screamed for help when swept downstream. Cst. Fischer who was near the scene ran to the shore and asked other witnesses to fasten a rope around his waist. Without hesitation he entered the freezing water and when nearing the victim, cried out to the others to release the rope as it proved to be too short. He grasped the woman from behind and carefully returned to shore where they were assisted up a shelf of ice to the embankment.