Medal of Bravery

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

Norman James Lesage, M.B.
Peter Marochi, M.B.
RCMP Constable Mark Frederick Oliver, M.B.
Peter Robinson, M.B.
Norman Stanley Walker, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

At great risk to their own lives, five British Columbia residents - Norman James Lesage, R.C.M.P. Cst. Mark Oliver of the Princeton Detachment, Peter Marochi and Peter Robinson of the Manning Park Emergency Services, along with Norman Stanley Walker - combined efforts to rescue a man and a woman in danger of drowning on 25 June 1982. After a man had lost control of his motorized camper while travelling near Manning Park, it rolled down the embankment and landed on its wheels in the raging Similkameen River. Though injured, the couple pulled themselves up onto the roof and waited for help. Dispatched to the scene, Cst. Oliver was joined shortly thereafter by Messrs. Marochi and Robinson. As soon as a rope extending from shore to the camper had been secured, Messrs. Marochi and Robinson waded chest-deep through the icy, swift-flowing waters, rendering immediate assistance to the stricken couple. Meanwhile, Cst. Oliver made two valiant rescue attempts using a rubber raft, but the force of the current overturned it and he fell into the treacherous water. Having convinced the stranded man to attempt to reach the shore by using a second rope held by others on the bank, Mr. Marochi entered the water, prepared to assist. Within several minutes the current and the cold had sapped his strength and he had to return to the roof. Mr. Robinson then took the man and began inching his way along the cable. While bearing the weight of the frantic victim, the rescuer was pulled under several times almost losing his grip each time. Near shore both were helped to safety by Cst. Oliver. Mr. Robinson returned to the camper but by then the woman was in a state of shock and the idea of rescuing her in the same fashion had to be abandoned. Mr. Lesage, who had landed his helicopter and joined the growing crowd of onlookers, volunteered to airlift the woman although untrained in rescue techniques. Mr. Walker, another onlooker, experienced in helicopter rescue operations, volunteered to assist, knowing that any wrong manoeuvre could be fatal. Mr. Walker joined the pilot in the helicopter to survey the area, then later, from the ground, guided the approach into the ravine. As the helicopter hovered, Mr. Marochi, still perched precariously on the roof of the partly-submerged vehicle, secured a collar on the woman. Relying on hand signals from Mr. Walker, Mr. Lesage lifted her and carried her to a waiting ambulance, returning to recover Messrs. Marochi and Robinson. Their ordeal had lasted four hours.