Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 15, 2005
• Invested on: December 02, 2005

Matthew Thomas Billard, M.B.
Shawn Edward Darby, M.B.
David P. Major, M.B.
Dean Vincent Metzler, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On October 20, 2004, these four Nova Scotians saved two severely injured teenage boys from a fiery death, in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. While stopped at an intersection, Matthew Billard and Dean Metzler witnessed a speeding car strike a utility pole and burst into flames. Without hesitation, the two 17-year-old friends jumped out of their vehicle and ran to the scene. While Matthew was able to open the front passenger door, removing one victim from the burning wreck and pulling him to safety, Dean reached in through the shattered back window in a vain attempt to save the boy in the back seat, who had been killed on impact. Meanwhile, Shawn Darby and David Major had arrived on the scene to help. The four rescuers combined their efforts and, despite the intensifying heat and flames, managed to extricate the unconscious driver whose legs were pinned under the dashboard.