Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 14, 1973
• Invested on: November 30, 1973

Charles Edward Petersen, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

At a swimming pool filled with children in Coronation, Alberta, on June 3, 1972, Charles Edward Petersen, at great risk to himself, shut off a valve through which chlorine gas was escaping. When the presence of deadly chlorine gas was detected, the young lifeguard with his supervisor cleared the pool of swimmers. Then, Charles Petersen undertook to find the cause and take steps to prevent more gas escaping. Discovering that the only mask available was defective, he held his breath, made his way into the chlorinator room and closed off the feeder valve. The 17-year-old then attended quickly to the young victims some of whom were overcome by the effects of the chlorine and helped get them to hospital for treatment.