Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: November 23, 1987
• Invested on: June 10, 1988

Caught in the chop where the incoming tide meets the swift current of the Sable River at Louis Head Beach near Pleasant Point, Nova Scotia, a small boat was swamped and capsized on the afternoon of September 7, 1986. The overturned vessel, its two passengers clinging to the hull, was swept further along the shore by the current. Tim Murphy, on the beach, spotted a coloured object in the water and heard faint cries for help. Stripping off his shirt and shoes he dove into the very cold water and swam 150 metres in order to catch up with the drifting boat. After an attempt to swim back to shore to get help, cut short by exhaustion, Mr. Murphy returned to the craft and the three worked to unhook and drop the anchor and motor, then right the vessel. After several unsuccessful attempts they were able to bail out enough water to permit one person to climb in. Further bailing enabled Mr. Murphy to join her in the boat, and the two were soon able to pull in the third person, an elderly man suffering from hypothermia. Mr. Murphy then unshipped the oars and rowed them back to shore.