On the morning of 1 February 1981, eleven-year-old Michael Gatey rescued two brothers from the frigid waters of Fraser Lake, in British Columbia. While ice fishing with Michael, an eleven-year-old friend leaned forward and fell in the water beyond his depth. Michael at once seized the metal bar that the boys had brought with them to break the ice and, lying on his stomach, held it out to the boy and pulled him from the water. Shortly afterwards Michael, accompanied by the boy's brother, aged fourteen, returned onto the Lake to retrieve the child's fishing rod. Unmindful of Michael's warning, the teenager walked into an area where the soft ice gave away under him and was soon in danger of drowning. The metal bar used earlier was now too far away so young Michael stretched over the fragile ice, seized the boy by the arms and, as he struggled to pull him to safety, was dragged into the water. Michael then broke the ice with his arms until he found solid footing. Though almost paralysed by the cold water, he climbed out, pulling the boy with him.