Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: January 23, 1984
• Invested on: June 22, 1984

Ailleen Young, M.B.
Charles Young, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

In the dark hours of 17 November 1982, Ailleen and Charles Young saved a man from certain death. Driving home toward North Gower, Ontario, the man lost consciousness when his car rolled into a ditch and hit a utility pole. The front of the car caught fire on impact, igniting the utility pole as well. Two passing motorists, Mr. and Mrs. Young, stopped at the scene and through smoke saw the driver slumped in the front seat, his head and shoulders under the dashboard, near the flames. Mr. Young forced the driver's door open and reached inside. Despite the intense heat and the danger of an explosion, Mrs. Young joined her husband and together they struggled to pull the injured man away from the fire. Seconds later an explosion destroyed the car.