Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1983-01-10
Invested on: 1983-03-04
Frank Irving Baine, M.B.
Gerald I. Kool, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
Shortly after midnight, on 26 July 1981, the late Frank Baine and Gerald Kool saved six teenagers from drowning off Beausoleil Island National Park, near Honey Harbour, in Georgian Bay. A sudden storm had blown up as the group was returning home in a fibreglass runabout. When high waves caused the craft to capsize, the youths held onto the hull and their cries were heard by boaters who were anchored nearby. Mr. Kool was first on the scene. He took the youngest on board and instructed the others to hold on to the sides of his dinghy. Even with great effort, he was making almost no progress against the strong wind when Mr. Baine arrived in his small rubber craft. Despite shared loads, little headway was made. Their struggles ended when a sailboat under power towed the two dinghies to Mr. Kool's cruiser. Moments after they had reached safety Mr. Baine collapsed, dying of a heart attack. Prior to participating in the rescue he had exerted himself securing his boat in the storm, yet he did not hesitate to answer the calls for help.