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Captain A. Donald MacQuarrie

Ottawa, Ontario

Decorations for Bravery

  • Medal of Bravery

    Awarded on: 1983-05-13
    Invested on: 1983-09-09
    Master Corporal Christopher N. Healey, M.B. Captain A. Donald MacQuarrie, M.B. Medal of Bravery On 26 November 1981, Cpt. Donald MacQuarrie of C.F.B. Shearwater, Sea King Helicopter Tactical Navigation Officer, and MCpl. Christopher Healey, Search and Rescue Technician from C.F.B. Summerside, were instrumental in the rescue of 26 crewmen stranded aboard the foundering Euro Princess. Extremely heavy seas forced the freighter aground off Sable Island, 300 km east of Halifax. Lifeboats had been swept away on the first tentative attempt to abandon ship and the crewmen waited helplessly for more than eight hours. At midnight the first helicopter arrived and Cpt. MacQuarrie, though not a trained rescue specialist and untried in rescue techniques, volunteered to be lowered to the deck of the stricken vessel and coordinate the rescue operation. Almost total darkness and high waves whipped by wind gusting to 110 km/hour combined with the erratic movements of the ship to make his task extremely dangerous, but he repeatedly instructed 13 seamen and secured the hoist collar on them as one after another was hauled on board the helicopter. When the aircraft departed Cpt. MacQuarrie stayed with the remaining crew. A second helicopter came overhead and MCpl. Healey was lowered to the deck, awash with waves in excess of seven metres. By then the vessel was further disabled and the other 13 survivors almost frantic. With professionalism, dedication and courage the two ensured that one by one the rest of the ship's company were properly fitted into the rescue apparatus and hoisted to the hovering helicopter. Cpt. MacQuarrie and MCpl. Healey were the last to leave.