Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 8, 1999
• Invested on: December 03, 1999

Dana Andrew Beales, M.B.
Stephen Scott Hussey, M.B.
Barri McConnell, M.B. (posthumous)
Medal of Bravery

On August 30, 1997, Barri McConnell lost his life while attempting to save his seven-year-old son from drowning at Elliot Lake, Ontario. The boy was swimming near the shore when the wind blew him past the deep water caution sign and caused him to lose his flotation tube some 30 metres out. Mr. McConnell immediately swam to him and began towing him towards shore, struggling to stay afloat. Seeing Mr. McConnell's predicament, Mr. Hussey swam to him, took the child and started for shore but he too began to weaken. Meanwhile, Mr. Beales had grabbed a life jacket and made his way to the victims. He took hold of the boy and gave the jacket to Mr. Hussey who was then able to reach shore. Once he had brought the boy to safety, Mr. Beales returned to search for Mr. McConnell and recovered his body from the bottom of the lake.