Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: October 13, 2010
• Invested on: October 28, 2011

Michael Lee Anderson, M.B.
Brent Michael Blackmore, M.B.
RCMP Constable Shane Douglas Nicoll, M.B.
Glen William Watts, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On January 15, 2008, Michael Anderson, Brent Blackmore, Glen Watts and Constable Shane Nicoll bravely attempted to rescue an elderly man from a vehicle submerged in the Millstone River, in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Upon witnessing the out-of-control vehicle sink into the river, Messrs. Watts and Blackmore entered the frigid water and swam out to the car. They struggled unsuccessfully to open the driver's door. Mr. Anderson swam out with a large rock to help them, but in their efforts to break a window, the rock slipped from their grasp and sank to the bottom. When Mr. Anderson returned with another rock, they managed to break the rear window open, allowing Mr. Watts to climb inside. Constable Nicoll, who was off-duty at the time, swam out with a knife, which Mr. Watts used to cut the seat belt as the car was filling up with water. At the same time, the other men tried to break another window to reach the victim. Feeling the effects of hypothermia, the four rescuers reluctantly abandoned their efforts and returned to shore. Sadly, the victim did not survive.