Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: March 14, 1983
• Invested on: July 09, 1984

Hans Rudolph Gillman, M.B.
James Simpson, M.B.
Richard Simpson, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

In the afternoon of 25 August 1981, Hans Gillman, Richard Simpson and his Son Jim saved six people from drowning in Okanagan Lake, near Peachland, in British Columbia. During his lunch hour, Mr. Gillman determined through a telescope that three adults and three children were clinging frantically to their overturned boat. A storm had blown up and the lake was extremely rough. He informed Richard Simpson and, though a non-swimmer with a life-long fear of water, he insisted on accompanying Mr. Simpson and his son in the rescue attempt. After taking some bearings to assist in the location of the boaters in distress, he and the Simpsons set out in Richard Simpson's cabin cruiser. Four-metre swells whipped by gusting winds resulting in the violent swaying of the cruiser and severely restricted visibility, but with skilful manoeuvres Mr. Simpson drew near the survivors. Extreme turbulence made control difficult, increasing the danger to rescuers and victims. On the first approach Mr. Gillman and Jim Simpson could only pull two from the water. A second approach brought two more on board, and a third completed the rescue of the exhausted adults and children. It is certain that the victims could not have remained afloat much longer.