Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 28, 1997
• Invested on: May 15, 1998

On October 23, 1996, high school student Luis Rodriguez swam to the rescue of a drowning fisherman who had fallen off his boat into the Niagara River, in Fort Erie, Ontario. Recently emigrated to Canada from his native Honduras, Mr. Rodriguez was walking to school when he was alerted by bystanders that the fisherman was in obvious distress, approximately 150 meters out in the fast-flowing river. Mr. Rodriguez immediately removed part of his clothing and swam to the victim's side. He managed to calm the struggling man who was desperately clinging to the side of his boat. Despite the extreme cold and the weight of the fisherman's waterlogged parka and boots, Mr. Rodriguez was able to haul the exhausted victim and his boat back to shore, where others administered first aid.