Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 6, 1989
• Invested on: June 02, 1989

While on a wharf on the Gatineau River in Gatineau, Quebec, on the evening of July 18, 1987, Ordinary Seaman Patrick Breton saw a young woman throw herself into the river and let herself drift away. He immediately dove into the water to help her. As she was about twenty metres from shore and the darkness made it almost impossible to see, he had to follow the sound of her heavy breathing and other noises she was making in order to find her. When he reached her, the victim, who wanted to end her life, resisted and moved away from him. Intensifying his efforts, Ordinary Seaman Breton was able to reach her again, grab hold of her and tow her to shore where the police, who had arrived in the meantime, helped him to pull her from the water.