Medal of Bravery

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

Darryl James Gruben, M.B. (posthumous)
Patrick Kuptana, M.B.
Roland Kuptana, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On May 31, 1998, 14-year-old Darryl Gruben lost his life while attempting to save his two-year-old brother from drowning in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. The toddler was Darryl's passenger on a snowmobile, as they and a group of family and friends were returning from a hunting trip. The ice gave way under Darryl's snowmobile some 30 metres from the harbour shore. Roland Kuptana, first at the scene, fell into the water as he neared the hole. Patrick Kuptana, also broke through a short distance away but was able to pull himself out, crawl to the victims and grab his brother's hand. Meanwhile, although his body was completely submerged, Darryl had managed to hold the child's head above water. Roland grabbed the boy and both he and the child were pulled to safety by Patrick. Sadly, Darryl disappeared under the surface and could not be saved.