Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: December 12, 1997
• Invested on: September 18, 1998

On August 27, 1996, Bernard Delaney rescued a Russian sailor whose car had plunged off a wharf in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. Mr. Delaney was on the wharf when he witnessed the car nose- dive into the water, two meters below, and settle in a precarious vertical position on the side of the pier. One man managed to exit the vehicle but another remained trapped inside. Mr. Delaney jumped into the cold murky ocean waters and, feeling his way, found the front passenger door open. He reached inside but could not find the victim. After he was forced to the surface for air, he dove down again and squeezed into the car through an open window. He located the unconscious victim, pulled the heavyset man over the seats and dragged him to the surface. He then revived the drowning man as firefighters lowered a stretcher to lift him to safety.