Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: January 12, 1987
• Invested on: March 06, 1987

Timothy Harold Hogan, M.B.
Paul LeBlanc, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On February 20, 1986, at approximately 2 p.m., Paul LeBlanc and Timothy Hogan, in a car on the Cocagne Bridge in Cocagne, New Brunswick, saw a man driving a snowmobile on the thin ice of the Rivière Cocagne channel. The right ski of the machine went through the ice and, because he was afraid of being trapped under it, the man applied full power to the snowmobile and headed for the open water. The snowmobile sank to the bottom of the river, dragging the driver under. Although afraid and aware of the danger that the thin ice and cold temperature presented, Messrs. LeBlanc and Hogan were by this time running across the ice towards the man. The ice broke under Mr. LeBlanc and he fell into the water. He then swam towards the victim, who was about eight metres away from the ice edge. Mr. Hogan remained on the ice. The victim, in a state of panic struck out at his rescuer but, after being calmed down by Mr. LeBlanc's words, let himself be pulled towards the ice. Exhausted, he was totally reliant upon Mr. LeBlanc. Mr. Hogan assisted both the victim and Mr. LeBlanc out of the water. They all rested on the ice for some time; then, the rescuers drove the victim to his home.