Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2000-09-28
Invested on: 2001-02-02
On July 12, 1999, Peter Chirke rescued two women from drowning at a northern California beach in the United States. Mr. Chirke was at the Goat Rock Beach near San Francisco when two women who were wading near the shore were dragged into deeper waters by a strong undertow. Without hesitation, Mr. Chirke entered the high surf, made his way to the closest woman and helped her out of the water. Although exhausted from battling three-metre waves that crashed over him, he went back into the pounding surf and searched beneath the surface until he found the second victim, some 70 metres out. Making slow progress against the powerful riptide, Mr. Chirke was able to bring the woman to shore where others provided assistance.