Star of Courage

• Awarded on: July 3, 1981
• Invested on: September 18, 1981

On 2 December 1979 at Cambridge, Nova Scotia, Brian John James Toney repeatedly risked his life in several attempts to rescue a man from his burning trailer home. When Mr. Toney saw the blaze and learned that a person was inside the house, he threw a blanket over himself and entered the rear part of the trailer, as the front was fully engulfed in smoke and flames. He proceeded down the hallway, saw a man lying on the floor some distance away and heard his cough. He grabbed his legs and began dragging him to safety but the thick smoke forced him to leave. The roof had started to fall in and in spite of pleas from others at the scene, Mr. Toney re-entered the trailer. He was able to get hold of the victim but, overcome by smoke, had to get out again. He cleared his lungs and attempted to make his way in a third time; however onlookers restrained him. As soon as he was freed, he managed to dash in but by then the victim's clothes and hair were on fire and Mr. Toney was forced out by the tremendous heat. It was not until the flames had subsided that the firemen were able to recover the body.