Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 8, 1995
• Invested on: May 17, 1996

Craig R. Garner, M.B.
Raymond Gionet, M.B.
William Van Dongen, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On May 30, 1993, at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Messrs. Garner, Gionet and van Dongen tried to save two children and a woman from being burned alive by her estranged husband. After hearing screams, the three men ran over to the neighbour's garage and saw the husband holding his family hostage in their van, having thrown gasoline over them and threatening to set them on fire with a lighter. While the children got safely outside, Mr. Garner tried to reason with the man, to no avail. Mr. van Dongen jumped inside the van and began struggling with him. Meanwhile, Mr. Garner and Mr. Gionet grabbed the woman, who was semi-conscious because of the fumes, and got her out of the van. At that moment, the man freed himself and ignited the gasoline. Although the flames engulfed the van and the woman, the rescuers were able to pull her from the garage and extinguish the flames that covered her. The husband died in the blaze and, in spite of the rescuers' efforts, the woman later died of severe injuries.