Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 17, 1991
• Invested on: December 13, 1991

On September 17, 1988, at Slalok Mountain near Pemberton, British Columbia, helicopter pilot John Michael Goats defied precarious conditions to assist in the alpine rescue of a critically injured hiker. Friends of the hiker chartered a helicopter and, after receiving information from the R.C.M.P., Mr. Goats flew his passengers to 2300 metres whereupon they immediately spotted the hiker on a narrow ledge. The helicopter touched down with one skid on the rock face below the ledge, allowing a rescuer to jump off. Mr. Goats subsequently made two more trips to transport rescue crew to the scene, where they placed the injured man in a stretcher. The stretcher was then hooked to the helicopter, which was hovering near the rock face in dangerous, windy conditions, and the victim was lowered to safety.