Star of Courage

• Awarded on: June 15, 1987
• Invested on: February 16, 1988

On July 18, 1986, Mr. Robert Sauvlet helped to rescue from drowning a couple whose car had been swept off the road by the flooding Pembina River near Lodgepole, Alberta. Mr. Sauvlet, a winch- cable around his waist, plunged into the cold, swift current to aid the two victims, one of them a non- swimmer. Reaching the male victim first, he signalled to shore to be pulled out. The heavy cable dragged them underwater however, forcing those on shore to desists. Both Mr. Sauvlet and the male victim then swam to the aid of the woman. One attempt to pull all three out of the river by a rope attached to a helicopter failed; they fell back into the water. Then, Mr. Sauvlet tied the rope around the woman and she and he were pulled out. Unable to hold on, the male victim dropped back into some submerged bushes an was then rescued by another man. Mr. Sauvlet spent about 45 minutes in the water while effecting the rescue.