Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 21, 1987
• Invested on: June 26, 1987

In the late afternoon of June 5, 1986, 17-year-old Daniel Lacoursière attempted to rescue of an elderly man who had slipped on some rocks and fallen into the cold and turbulent waters of the Campbell River in British Columbia. Mr. Lacoursière lay flat on the rocks and, reaching out, managed to grasp the man's hand. When his grip began to slip, he wrapped a bystander's belt around his wrist; the two men were thus linked for some 5 to 10 minutes but, tiring, the older man let go and fell back into the water. Without hesitation, despite the fact he had no water safety training and was a poor swimmer, Mr. Lacoursière jumped in and took hold of the man by the neck. He began to make for shore, but the strong current pulled them both under. Mr. Lacoursière was forced to release his hold and, realizing there was nothing more he could do, returned to shore. The man's body was later recovered downstream.