Star of Courage

• Awarded on: October 3, 1977
• Invested on: December 02, 1977

Neil Albert Swayze, S.C.
Anna Gertrude Swayze, S.C.
Star of Courage

Neil and Anna Swayze rescued a man from the burning wreckage of his van following a head-on collision near Renfrew on 30 July 1976. The couple were flagged down on the highway some distance from the scene and raced to the van. They found the man pinned behind the steering wheel with flames spreading around him. Finding their attempt to pull him out to no avail, they decided to pry the interior of the vehicle apart. Using a pole, they succeeded in moving the dashboard but still failed to dislodge the driver. At this point the other victim of the accident was able to help, and it was only when all three joined efforts that the victim could be dragged from the burning vehicle and the fire on his clothes extinguished.