On June 18, 1999, Thane Phillips rescued three canoeists at the junction of the Takhini and the Yukon rivers, in Whitehorse, Yukon. Mr. Phillips was waiting to pick up the trio when their canoe flipped over some 50 metres out. While two of the victims desperately clung to the capsized canoe, the third was being carried downstream by the swift current. Despite the risks, Mr. Phillips jumped into the cold, turbulent waters, made his way to the canoe and helped the man and woman locate their life-jackets. He then swam toward the third victim who disappeared under the surface as he reached him some 40 metres downstream. Struggling to keep himself and the man afloat, he managed to grab hold of the canoe as it drifted past them and put a life-jacket on the now-unconscious victim while performing CPR. Although exhausted, Mr. Phillips then caught a line thrown by another canoeist and, despite many difficulties, all were pulled out of the water and the victims were treated for shock and hypothermia.