Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2001-06-27
Invested on: 2001-12-06
In the early hours of May 16, 1999, Daniel Douville rescued two children from a burning third-floor apartment in Laval, Quebec. Alerted to the fire by the children's mother, Mr. Douville raced up from the second floor and entered the smoke-filled apartment. Braving the intense heat, he reached the three-year-old's bedroom and lifted him in his arms. Although struck by a fire ball that burned his neck as he neared the nine-year-old's room, Mr. Douville carried on with the evacuation of the young victims to the safety of the balcony. Informed that the children's four-year-old cousin was missing, he rushed back inside but was forced back out by the spreading flames. Undeterred and with burns to his feet, he wrapped himself in a wet comforter and re-entered the apartment only to be forced out again when his blanket began to steam and burn. Regrettably, despite Mr. Douville's best effort, the child could not be saved.