Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1995-10-31
Invested on: 1996-05-17
On January 25, 1995, Mikel Brennan drowned while trying to keep his friend afloat after their snowmobile plunged through the ice on the Ottawa River at Wendover, Ontario. After they were thrown into the freezing waters, he tried unsuccessfully to help his companion get back onto the ice. He told her to float on her back to conserve energy and, at one point, as she was about to lose consciousness, he held her above the water to help her breathe. Tragically, Mr. Brennan succumbed to the cold and sank below the water's surface. Shortly after, rescuers managed to pull the young woman to safety.