Star of Courage

• Awarded on: June 8, 1981
• Invested on: September 18, 1981

Daniel Charlebois, S.C.
Q.P.P. Officer Claude Daprato, S.C.
Star of Courage

On 8 June 1980, Daniel Charlebois and Off. Claude Daprato saved two men from drowning in the turbulent Lake Saint-Louis at Beauharnois in the Province of Quebec. When the two victims' boat capsized because of rough weather, the two metre high waves carried them towards open water where the currents of a nearby dam and the St. Lawrence Seaway merge. Two rescue attempts had failed. Nevertheless Messrs. Charlebois and Daprato set out in a five metre boat. Guided from the shore by radio messages, they reached the drowning men. The manoeuvre was extremely difficult, their boat being almost out of control. A wave threw it on top of the two fishermen who were unable to disengage themselves. Off. Daprato jumped into the water, got both of them from under and passed them to Mr. Charlebois who succeeded in hauling them into his lurching craft. The two rescuers were afterwards able to reach the safety of the shore with their exhausted passengers.