Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2005-03-01
Invested on: 2005-06-24
On March 27, 2004, Capt Bruce Gundling risked his life to prevent a suicidal woman from jumping into the Rideau River Falls, in Ottawa, Ontario. Capt Gundling was walking his dog with his son when he observed the victim climbing over a barrier and onto the edge of a concrete platform above the raging river. Moments later, when he witnessed the distressed woman pull a razor blade and slash her wrist, Capt Gundling seized the opportunity of a momentary distraction to leap over two barriers and a concrete wall to reach her side. He then wrestled the frantic woman to disarm and restrain her for the 10 minutes it took for others to arrive at the scene and help pull her over the wall to safety.