Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: November 3, 1980
• Invested on: March 09, 1981

Keith Bezanson, M.B.
Constable Daniel Desroches, M.B.
Luc Goudreault, M.B.
Constable Shamus Hall, M.B.
Lester John O'Neil, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On 14 October 1979 John O'Neil, Keith Bezanson, Luc Goudreault, and Constables Shamus Hall and Daniel Desroches made a valiant effort to save the lives of a man and a woman who were trapped in a car in Dow's Lake, Ottawa. The man had had a heart attack at the wheel, and the car had veered into the lake and sunk several metres from shore. As the first to appear on the scene, Mr. O'Neil dived into the cold water, managing only to open the driver's door before having to surface for air. On his second dive he entered the car but was unable to release the driver's seat belt. Mr. Bezanson then took over and, with Mr. O'Neil holding the door, strained to free the driver. When both were exhausted they were relieved by the other rescuers. With a knife obtained by Mr. Goudreault, Constable Desroches cut the woman's belt and Constable Hall that of her husband. Though rushed to hospital, the couple could not be revived.