Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 6, 1989
• Invested on: June 02, 1989

On the night of June 24, 1987, a car missed a curve on Highway 19 near Bois-des-Filion, Quebec, crashed into an embankment and caught fire. Seeing flames at the side of the road, Mr. François St- Louis stopped his car and rushed to the scene. He found the driver unconscious, trapped between the seat and the steering wheel, his pulse imperceptible. He noticed another seriously injured victim lying on the back seat. Mr. St-Louis leaned halfway into the burning vehicle in an effort to pull the man out, but was unsuccessful. He then went to the front of the car and threw sand on it in an effort to extinguish the flames. When the injured victim shouted that the fire was spreading dangerously close to him, Mr. St-Louis made another attempt to save him. With the victim helping him as much as he could, Mr. St-Louis managed to grab him under the arms and pull his head and upped body from the vehicle. Others came to his assistance to complete the rescue and carry the victim to safety.