Star of Courage
Awarded on: 1983-08-08
Invested on: 1983-12-09
In the late afternoon of 12 May 1982, while visiting with his parents at the Tall Timbers Trailer Court in Duncan, British Columbia, Barry Gionet was alerted that a fire had broken out in the trailer next door. When told that a night-shift worker would likely be asleep he hurried over and banged on the front door to awaken the man. Mr. Gionet saw him approach the exit of his blazing mobile home, then turn back in order to gather some personal effects. Hearing a scream inside, he made his way through dense smoke and unbearable heat and found the man unconscious in the hallway, his hair on fire. At great peril to his own life the rescuer succeeded in dragging the victim to safety. Mr. Gionet sustained burns to his face and hands.