Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: May 30, 1997
• Invested on: December 05, 1997

On July 11, 1995, Edith Porter saved her 10-year-old grandson from drowning in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. During a visit from her grandson, Mrs. Porter noticed that the boy had disappeared. She instinctively went down to the river where they had been swimming earlier and called out to him. The boy had walked away to a nearby bridge and when he turned to respond, he slipped into the fast flowing waters of the river. As he struggled to stay afloat, Mrs. Porter raced to his rescue. She waded down the muddy bank and just as she grasped the boy's hand, she lost her footing and fell. Poor swimmers, they struggled in three meters of rushing waters until they both lost consciousness. As neighbours pulled them out of the water to safety and to administer CPR, they noticed that Mrs. Porter was still holding her grandson's hand.