Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 3, 1997
• Invested on: December 05, 1997

James Richard Stuart Brennan, M.B.
Sergeant Michael James Langdon, M.B., C.D.
Sergeant Wayne Walter Zacharuk, M.B., C.D.
Medal of Bravery

On May 26, 1996, James Brennan and off-duty Sgts. Langdon and Zacharuk rescued two canoeists from Ramsey Lake, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. While fishing from shore, the men witnessed a canoe tip over and spill two fishermen into the freezing waters, 50 metres out. First to jump into the lake, Mr. Brennan and Sgt. Langdon swam to the man who had started to submerge. The panicked non-swimmer dragged Sgt. Langdon under repeatedly before Mr. Brennan was able to get a firm grip on him. Exhausted, and in trouble himself, Sgt. Langdon then returned to shallower waters. In his continued struggle, the victim pulled Mr. Brennan under several times before losing consciousness. Mr. Brennan towed the limp body to shore where the man started to breathe again. In the meantime, Sgt. Zacharuk had gone to the rescue of the other man who, by then, had disappeared under the surface. He found the man nearly six metres deep in a sitting position, grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to the surface. Sgt. Zacharuk dragged the victim toward shore until Sgt. Langdon arrived to help. Together, they returned to shore where the man regained consciousness.