Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 20, 1996
• Invested on: December 06, 1996

On July 27, 1995, Mr. Van De Kerckhove tried to rescue an unconscious man from the bottom of a well in Fleming, Saskatchewan. The man had been performing maintenance work when he fell to the bottom of the well. Arriving at the scene, volunteer fire chief Van De Kerckhove went down into the well casing. He was soon overcome by hydrogen sulfide fumes and collapsed in a few feet of water. Minutes later, firefighters arrived, equipped with breathing apparatus, and pulled the unconscious Mr. Van De Kerckhove from the well. He was rushed to hospital and treated for hydrogen sulfide poisoning. The first victim did not survive.