Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: July 3, 1981
• Invested on: September 18, 1981

On 24 July 1980, Robert Bull saved a man from a bear attack at Getz Lake, Ontario. The two foresters were laying-in a roadline in the bush when they came upon a mother black bear and her two cubs. They retreated quickly and climbed up trees in order to escape the danger. The mother bear pursued them, followed the man seven metres up the tree, sank her teeth into his foot and hauled him down. He landed on his back, crushing two vertebrae. The bear stood at his feet. Robert Bull, seeing the grave danger to his friend, rushed down, picked up a large branch and shouting as loudly as he could, quickly advanced towards the animal, who retreated about three metres. The victim got up with difficulty and started walking away. Mr. Bull kept on threatening the bear until his colleague had gone some distance, then he, himself, slowly made his escape while the mother bear returned to her cubs.