Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: January 25, 2007
• Invested on: June 15, 2007

Robin William Johnstone, M.B.
Thomas Murray Martin, M.B.
Acting Sergeant Leon Tadeusz Sowa, M.B.
Detective-Constable Paul Gordon Stuart, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On October 29, 2005, Robin Johnstone, Murray Martin, Acting Sergeant Leon Sowa and Detective-Constable Paul Stuart rescued a suicidal woman who had set fire to her house in Ajax, Ontario. After gaining entry and searching the front rooms, they went down the hallway but were forced back out by the heavy smoke. The men re-entered the house by kicking in the back door, which was obstructed with pieces of wood. Crawling under the thick smoke, they searched the bedrooms and hallway, retreating outside often to get fresh air. They finally located the semi-conscious victim in the kitchen, hiding under a desk and office equipment that she had placed in front of her for concealment. Despite their great difficulty breathing, the rescuers grabbed the resisting woman and carried her outside to safety.