Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 26, 1991
• Invested on: December 13, 1991

Mr. Widbur, a co-op student on general patrol with an O.P.P. constable, attempted to save the life of a young man trapped behind a frozen waterfall near Shelburne, Ontario on January 11, 1991. While exploring an ice cave the victim had broken through the ice and fallen four meters into one and a half meters of frigid water. A rope was dropped down to him but the weakened man was unable to tie it round himself. Mr. Widbur then volunteered to crawl through the ice tunnel and be lowered to assist him. As ice water poured down on them, Mr. Widbur tied the rope around the disoriented man and attempted unsuccessfully to push him up and out of the water. Now suffering from hypothermia himself, he propped the man on a rock ledge and called to be pulled out. Mr. Widbur was treated in hospital for frost bite and hypothermia. Unfortunately the victim perished.