Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: July 16, 1984
• Invested on: November 09, 1984

On the morning of 1 July 1982, Calvin Ausenhus saved a man and his sixteen-year-old daughter from severe burns, perhaps death, following a traffic accident near Edmonton. All six members of the family were travelling on the highway when their van went out of control and rolled into a ditch. A passing motorist, Mr. Ausenhus, stopped and hurried to the scene as four occupants scrambled out of the vehicle. Propane gas was escaping from a broken gas line and an explosion was imminent. Seeing the man and his daughter in their seats, dazed and oblivious to the danger, Mr. Ausenhus yelled in an attempt to arouse them. Then he reached inside and seized the girl while urging her father to get out. At that moment the expected explosion occurred, knocking Mr. Ausenhus and the victims to the ground and igniting their clothing. Concerned onlookers helped extinguish the flames. Mr. Ausenhus sustained burns to his face and forearms. His selfless action almost certainly averted a tragedy.