Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2002-06-20
Invested on: 2003-06-13
Jean Boileau, M.B.
Todd Briscoe, M.B.
Wade Briscoe, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
On July 14, 2001, in Ottawa, Ontario, Todd and Wade Briscoe rescued Jean Boileau from the basket of a burning hot air balloon while the latter was risking his life in an attempt to save his daughter from the fire. The balloon had just landed in a field when a gust of wind lifted and propelled it into a high voltage wire. The basket caught fire on receiving an electrical discharge of some 20, 000 volts and then fell back toward the ground. Todd and Wade Briscoe witnessed the accident and, rushing up to the balloon, attempted to hold back Mr. Boileau who, leaning forward into the flames, was trying desperately to reach his daughter at the bottom of the basket. Despite the propane tanks that were exploding in the intense heat, the Briscoe brothers succeeded, on their fourth attempt, to grab Mr. Boileau by his clothes and pull him and his passenger out of the fire. Todd and Wade Briscoe were unharmed, while Mr. Boileau suffered serious burns to his face, arms and legs; sadly, his daughter did not survive this tragedy.