Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 28, 2000
• Invested on: February 02, 2001

Juliana Bartel, M.B.
Helmut Dueckman, M.B. (Posthumous)
Ashley Getz, M.B.
Marna Getz, M.B.
Mark Major, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On August 24, 1998, Helmut Dueckman died trying to rescue his two small grandchildren from drowning in Lake Erie, at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. When they saw the children in trouble, Juliana and Ashley, both 12 years old, braved the two-metre waves until they reached one of the children. The friends managed to keep the six-year-old's head above water until Ashley's mother Marna arrived to help bring the little girl to safety. Juliana Bartel and Marna Getz then fought the waves back to the panicked nine-year-old boy and brought him to shore. Meanwhile, Mr. Dueckman had also entered the water but was overcome by the high wave action. Alerted to the situation, park employee Mark Major swam to the elderly man, some 100 metres out. With the undertow pulling them under, Mr. Major managed to tow the unconscious victim back to shore but, sadly, Mr. Dueckman could not be revived.