Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 13, 1997
• Invested on: June 16, 1997

On August 13, 1995, William Boncheff pulled two victims from a burning car following a traffic accident on the Fred Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, Ontario. As one car was completely engulfed in flames making any rescue attempts impossible, Mr. Boncheff raced to the other vehicle where two severely injured victims lay unconscious on the front seat. With the help of other rescuers, Mr. Boncheff pulled a woman from the passenger side. Then he climbed into the wreck and attempted to extricate the driver while explosions in the other vehicle fed the fire. While someone doused him and the surrounding flames with a fire extinguisher, he managed to pry the steering wheel off the man but was unable to release his seat belt. He exited the vehicle to get a knife and, in spite of his burns, crawled inside a second time. He freed the driver and handed him to others who helped take him to awaiting emergency crews.