Star of Courage

• Awarded on: April 21, 1987
• Invested on: September 25, 1987

Clarence Timothy Quinn, S.C.
Ross Everet Simpson, S.C.
Star of Courage

Towards evening, on July 25, 1986, 74-year old Timothy Quinn and 62-year old Ross Simpson, upon hearing cries fro help and without thought for personal safety, rushed to the aid of a 17-year-old girl who had slipped, fully clothed, from a rock into the Welland River at Chippewa, Ontario. The girl was being carried downstream by the swift current and was approximately 35 metres from the shore; already, she had gone under twice. Mr. Quinn, without removing his clothing, swam out to her, grabbed her at the neck and began towing her to safety. About 4 metres from shore, his strength failed. At this point, Mr. Simpson, recovering from a recent triple by-pass operation and subsequent stroke, jumped into the water and assisted both Mr. Quinn and the girl to shore. Apart from complete exhaustion, the three suffered no ill effects.