Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2005-03-01
Invested on: 2005-06-24
On November 1, 2003, Sebastian Donnelly lost his life while trying to rescue a friend from drowning at Lake of the Woods, Ontario. The waves had picked up and had flipped their canoe over, throwing Mr. Donnelly and his three companions into the frigid waters. Aware that one of his friends could not swim, Mr. Donnelly grabbed him under the arm and tried to swim with him against the strong current to reach shore. Overcome by exhaustion from fighting the powerful surf, he could no longer hold on to his friend and both disappeared under the surface and drowned.