Star of Courage
Awarded on: 1980-05-12
Invested on: 1980-09-26
On the night of 30 March 1979 Franklin Hicks saved two men from drowning in Baptiste Lake near Port Hope, Ontario. Three snowmobiles, together carrying five men, had broken through the ice. Mr. Hicks heard their cries and came to their aid with a ladder. He found that all but two men had climbed on to the ice. While holding the ladder out to one and preparing to pull him out of the water, he himself broke through the ice. Undeterred he climbed back and persisted until he had saved the man. Then, as the other was out of his reach, he got a canoe and ladder from shore. Once again, he fell through the ice but again climbed back. Finally he reached the victim and took him to shore.