Arthur Douglas Kalke, M.B. (Posthumous)
Matthew John Glen Pederson, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
On August 30, 2000, Matthew Pederson went to the aid of Arthur Kalke who lost his life while rescuing his two-year-old grandson from the Shuswap River, near Mabel Lake, Enderby, British Columbia. Mr. Kalke was fishing with his son, his grandson and his son's friend, Matthew Pederson, when the toddler slipped off the bank into the fast flowing river. The boy's father leaped in after him but he too found himself in difficulty when he became entangled in fishing lines. Realizing the urgency of the situation, Arthur Kalke jumped in and took hold of his grandson but he and the child were caught in the current and carried adrift into the rapids, some ten metres out. Mr. Pederson swam to them and grabbed hold of the older man's shirt moments before the trio was thrust into a whirlpool. Struggling to keep the victims afloat, Mr. Pederson wedged his foot between two rocks and propelled himself into calmer waters. He then swam to shore with Mr. Kalke's limp body in tow, still gripping his grandchild tightly against his chest. Sadly, efforts to revive Mr. Kalke were not successful.