Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: July 16, 1984
• Invested on: November 09, 1984

Firefighter Normand Themens, M.B.
Robert Bernhard Warnock, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

Late in the evening of 23 August 1981, Firefighter Normand Themens and Robert Warnock saved the lives of two individuals in danger of drowning in the Lachine Rapids near Ile aux Chèvres. When four adults were tossed into the rapids from their disabled boat, their cries for help were heard by Messrs. Themens and Warnock. They launched their boats and made their way in darkness through the swirling waters of the rapids, guided only by the sound of voices. Mr. Warnock found a woman kept afloat by her life jacket, dragged her into his boat and brought her to shore. Mr. Themens in turn headed towards the other voice, spotted a man who could barely keep his head above the surface and hauled him on board. Both reached safety. On learning that two occupants of the capsized boat were missing, Messrs. Themens and Warnock returned to the rapids and continued their search in the treacherous waters for more than two hours. Regrettably, the other two occupants of the boat could not be found.