R. Wade Adey, M.B. (posthumous)
Don Bannister, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
On May 31, 2003, Wade Adey lost his life after rescuing Don Bannister and his seven-year-old grandson from drowning in British Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Adey, Mr. Bannister and Mr. Bannister's grandson were chopping iceberg chunks in the mouth of the harbour when the thick mass floundered, capsized their seven-metre boat and threw them into the freezing water. Determined to help the child out of the water, the men struggled for 20 minutes before they managed to lift him onto the slippery iceberg. Despite exhaustion and the onset of hypothermia, Mr. Adey was then able to push Mr. Bannister onto the ice mass. When, in turn, Mr. Bannister's repeated attempts to lift his friend out of the water proved unsuccessful, he swam to shore for assistance. Unfortunately, when help arrived in a row boat, Mr. Adey had been in the water for two hours and could not be saved.