Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1989-07-31
Invested on: 1989-12-11
In the late afternoon of June 25, 1986, a courageous act by Mr. Patrick Bushey, at the time a student at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, saved four lives. Mr. Bushey was participating in a research project on the Saguenay River near Chicoutimi-North, when waves and a strong wind overturned the boat in which he was travelling with three other students and a professor. They all hung onto the boat waiting to be rescued. After nearly an hour, Mr. Bushey, who was wearing a life jacket, decided to swim off in search of help. It took him over an hour to reach the shore. He then walked to the road where a young man took him to his home to alert the authorities.