Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2003-04-17
Invested on: 2004-06-25
On April 13, 2001, Robert Cardinal suffered severe burns while helping members of his family escape their burning apartment in Edmonton, Alberta. After a vain attempt to douse the rapidly spreading flames, Mr. Cardinal instructed his wife and children to flee their fourth-floor apartment through a window. Realizing that his six-year-old nephew was missing, Mr. Cardinal went searching for him through the smoke-filled dwelling. Unable to locate the boy, Mr. Cardinal, overcome by smoke, escaped the apartment by breaking though the flaming door. He managed to crawl into the hallway, where he collapsed, his clothes still on fire. Moments later, Mr. Cardinal and the child were rescued by firefighters and brought to safety.