Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2000-09-28
Invested on: 2001-02-02
On August 19, 1999, James Henwood went to the aid of a co-worker whose hand was being crushed by the rollers of a 7-1/2 ton stacker crane in St. Mary's, Ontario. Mr. Henwood's partner was checking the controls on top of the crane when the large main cylinder rotated suddenly and crushed the man's hand. Hearing his screams, Mr. Henwood jumped nearly two metres from the cab of the crane onto a narrow steel support beam, some 12 metres above a work-site cement floor full of equipment and sharp objects. Without any safety devices he then made his way to the victim. With very little space to manoeuvre, he was able to manually turn the cylinder back and release his partner's severely lacerated and crushed hand. Once he had controlled the bleeding by using his own shirt as a tourniquet, Mr. Henwood went to get help.