On the morning of 14 February 1981, fifteen-year-old William Ivany was playing hockey on the ice of the town's harbour. A young friend spoke briefly to William then went skating by herself on ice which had frozen only the night before. When he saw her floundering in the open water William at once dashed to her rescue. In circumstances of extreme danger, knowing full well that the surface was treacherous, he stretched over the thin ice, reached the girl and, while reassuring her, seized her arm and pulled her to safety. But for Williams's valiant effort the girl would have drowned.