Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1977-12-05
Invested on: 1978-06-23
Lionel Lapointe saved two women from drowning in the St. Lawrence River at La Prairie, Quebec, on October 27, 1975. The women's car had spun out of control and plunged into the water. Seeing the accident, Mr. Lapointe swam to the car which was not totally submerged and climbed on to the trunk. Trying in vain to break a rear window, he then dived into the river. Opening a window of the car, he was able to seize one victim and bring her to the surface. While she was returning to shore on her own, Mr. Lapointe dived a second time, grasped the other woman, and brought her to the roof of the car. The woman was revived, and moments later both she and her rescuer were helped to shore by others who had come on the scene.