Medal of Bravery

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

Derek Francis Kennedy, M.B.
Christopher MacMillan, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On August 6, 1998, Derek Kennedy and Christopher MacMillan rescued boaters from the North Sydney Harbour, in Nova Scotia. Five adults and two young children were forced into the water when two explosions turned their ten-metre pleasure boat into an inferno. Witness to the accident, Mr. Kennedy dove from the wharf and swam some twenty metres to the children who were clinging to a struggling woman. As he reached the trio, he grabbed hold of the girl and boy but, in her panic, the woman repeatedly pulled him under. Mr. Kennedy managed to break free and encouraged her to swim to the wharf while he brought the children to safety. He then returned to help another distressed woman who refused to let go of a dinghy tied to the burning boat. Unable to untie the dory, he yelled for help and Mr. MacMillan swam over with a knife and cut the rope. Together, Messrs. Kennedy and MacMillan then pulled the woman to shore as the remaining boaters made their way to the wharf where others helped them out of the water.