Star of Courage

• Awarded on: September 24, 1984
• Invested on: March 15, 1985

Ignoring the danger to himself, Maynard Webber saved three young adults from a fiery death following a traffic accident near Kirkland Lake on the night of 1 November 1983. After the driver had lost control of his vehicle, it struck a mass of rock on the side of the highway, flipped on its roof and caught fire. On arrival at the scene Mr. Webber ran toward the burning wreckage and pulled an injured and immobile young woman through the passenger window. Told that another was slumped under the dashboard, he crawled back inside and, in spite of the unbearable heat and smoke, extricated the woman. While carrying her to safety, he learned that her brother had been at the wheel. The gasoline spilling from the tank fuelled the metre-high flames and Mr. Webber realized that an explosion could happen at any moment. Undeterred, he entered the overturned vehicle a third time and, feeling his way, found the driver pinned underneath the seat. Confused and unsure of his predicament, the young man fought him off. Mr. Webber disengaged the man with great difficulty and passed him through the window seconds before the car was completely engulfed.