Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1989-06-26
Invested on: 1989-11-12
Late in the afternoon of April 19, 1987, a car left the road near Castleton, Ontario, struck a tree and burst into flames. Hearing the crash, Mr. Earl Gordon Clarkson and his son drove to the scene to offer assistance. After trying unsuccessfully to smother the flames with sand and gravel they removed the unconscious passenger from the vehicle. While the son left to fetch a tractor to help in the rescue, Mr. Clarkson and his daughter-in-law turned their attention to the driver of the vehicle, whose legs were trapped under the burning dashboard. After several attempts to pull him free, Mr. Clarkson tried to pry the dashboard away from the victim but was driven back by the smoke. With the passenger compartment of the vehicle burning, they made a new attempt and pulled the driver to safety.