Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2005-04-28
Invested on: 2005-12-02
On August 9, 2004, Michael Williamson, who is legally blind, put his life at risk to rescue two men from drowning in Lake Nipissing, Ontario. When he noticed that the victims, clinging to their capsized canoe, were too weak to reach the rope thrown at them from his boat, Mr. Williamson jumped into the lake and swam over to reach their side. As he returned towards the craft with the first victim in tow, Mr. Williamson was struck on the head by his boat as it rocked in the waves, and he slipped under the water. Disoriented, he temporarily lost his grip on the victim, but managed to grab him again and swim towards the back of the rescue boat. While friends helped the man onboard, Mr. Williamson swam back to assist the second canoer until a police vessel arrived at the scene.