Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 25, 2012
• Invested on: September 19, 2012

Réal April, M.B.
Gisèle Huot, M.B. (Posthumous)
Medal of Bravery

On February 12, 2010, Réal April and Gisèle Huot tried to rescue Ms. Huot's husband from the St. Lawrence River, near Rimouski, Quebec. The three friends had been snowshoeing when the victim fell through the ice. Just as Ms. Huot and Mr. April crawled close enough to reach him with their ski poles, the ice gave way and they also fell in. Mr. April managed to get out and, after several unsuccessful attempts to pull the other two out, ran to get help. Completely soaked and frozen, he walked over a kilometre towards some ice-fishing huts near the shore and screamed for help. A man heard him, called 911, and stayed with Mr. April until the ambulance arrived. Sadly, Ms. Huot and her husband did not survive.