Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1988-04-05
Invested on: 1998-09-18
On November 5, 1986, Marc Bourgeois saved a woman from drowning in Hull, Quebec. While on a drive with a couple, the victim jumped out of the moving car, climbed over the guardrail of the Lady Aberdeen Bridge, and threw herself into the Gatineau River. The couple watched helplessly as the victim was carried downstream towards the Ottawa River. Meanwhile, Mr. Bourgeois arrived on the scene and, despite the darkness, the cold water and the current, began swimming towards the woman. At about fifteen metres from shore, he stopped to catch his breath at a raft used for log drives, then grabbed a log and swam some thirty metres farther with it. As he reached the victim he held the log out to her, then began to tow her back towards the raft. When his strength failed him, he swam alone to the raft while the victim, still hanging onto the log, was carried towards him by the current. When she floated by, Mr. Bourgeois grabbed her and pulled her onto the raft. Both Mr. Bourgeois and the victim were rescued 20 minutes later.