Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2008-04-22
Invested on: 2009-06-19
Aaron Alvin Karton, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
On July 24, 2005, Aaron Karton rescued a man from drowning in the Skaha River Canal, in Penticton, British Columbia. The victim had tied a rope around his ankle and had attached the other end to tubes for his children to ride down the canal. While passing under a bridge, the current pushed the tubes to one side of a pillar and pinned the father on the other side. Witness to the scene, Mr. Karton jumped into the strong current to help. Unable to loosen the rope, Mr. Karton tried to keep the victim's head above water. In a panic, the man grabbed at his rescuer and pushed him under several times. Although exhausted, Mr. Karton finally managed to slip the rope off and brought the man to safety.