Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2001-09-06
Invested on: 2002-06-28
On December 27, 2000, Dan Kehler saved his father-in-law from drowning after his snowmobile plunged into the freezing waters of Black Sturgeon Bay, Ontario. Mr. Kehler was on the leading snowmobile when he noticed that his father-in-law was no longer following him. He went back to investigate and found him in the water, struggling to climb up onto the breaking ice. Mr. Kehler found two pieces of rope which he tied together. Ignoring the victim's plea to stay away from the unsafe ice, he crawled toward the man as the delicate surface cracked and water flowed up around him. Despite his precarious situation, he made his way to the edge of the hole and threw the rope. On his second attempt, the victim managed to slip his arm, numbed by the icy water, through a loop and use his other arm to secure it. Although weak from exhaustion, Mr. Kehler was able to pull the victim out of the hole and continued to crawl backward until they reached a thicker surface.