Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2005-03-01
Invested on: 2005-06-24
On the evening of January 22, 2004, Patrice Bernier risked his life to rescue a friend from drowning after the ice had given way under the weight of his snowmobile, on the Richelieu River, near St-Charles, Quebec. Mr. Bernier, driving the lead snowmobile, noticed that his friend was no longer following him. He went back to investigate and spotted him in a hole in the ice, in the middle of the river, desperately battling the fierce current pulling him below the surface. Fighting the high winds and drifting snow, Mr. Bernier crawled on the thin surface until he reached the edge of the hole. He grabbed his friend's hand and managed to pull him from the freezing water after several attempts. He then dragged him to a nearby residence where they received assistance.