Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 27, 1998
• Invested on: May 10, 1999

Firefighter David L. Martin, M.B.
Darin Stewart, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On July 16, 1997, David Martin and Darin Stewart rescued two young men whose canoe had gone over a dam in Rivière des Brochets at Stanbridge East, Quebec. After emerging from under a waterfall, the unconscious men were carried downstream by the fast flowing river. Witness to the scene, Mr. Stewart swam to the nearest victim and grabbed hold of him. The two were then tossed towards a bridge where Mr. Stewart managed to touch bottom and, despite exhaustion, to haul the man out of the current. Meanwhile, Mr. Martin had run from his house near the river and dove amongst floating debris towards the other victim. Battling strong currents, he swam across the river and secured the man. As the turbulent waters carried them away Mr. Martin was able to grab a branch and, with failing strength, pulled the man to shore.