Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 11, 1998
• Invested on: September 23, 1999

R.C.M.P. Constable Murray Richard Baltus, M.B.
Michael Hugh Garrett, M.B. (posthumous)
Charles Albert Woodbridge, M.B.
Luke Owen Woodbridge, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On July 24, 1996, Cst. Baltus, Mr. Garrett and American citizens Charles and Luke Woodbridge helped miners who had collapsed from carbon monoxide poisoning in an abandoned mine shaft near Atlin, British Columbia. Five men were exploring the gold mine when their fresh air pumping system failed. The miners had returned to ground level when they heard a colleague's cries from the bottom of the dark 70-metre shaft. Mr. Garrett rushed back down and tied a rope around him. As the then unconscious man was hoisted up the narrow passage, Mr. Garrett also succumbed to the deadly gases, and efforts to pull him up failed as he became stuck in the shaft. After others became weak attempting to rescue Mr. Garrett, Mr. Woodbridge managed to reach down the shaft and free him but he too was overcome by the fumes. Meanwhile Cst. Baltus had arrived and entered the mine with Mr. Woodbridge's sixteen-year-old son Luke. They located Luke's father on the third level and began to lift him up but the toxic gases forced the teenager back to the surface. Undeterred, Cst. Baltus pressed on, positioning himself under Mr. Woodbridge's body and boosting him up the wet and slippery ladder until others could help complete the rescue. Tragically, the first victim and Mr. Garrett died during this incident.