Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: March 25, 1998
• Invested on: September 18, 1998

Ingrid Suzanne Bailey, M.B.
Tony Dauk, M.B.
Gary Richmond, M.B.
Major Harvey Smerychynski, M.B., C.D.
Bradley David Westervelt, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On August 14, 1997, Ingrid Bailey, Tony Dauk, Gary Richmond, Harvey Smerychynski and Bradley Westervelt joined others in attempting to save Canadian and American tourists who were being mauled by a bear at Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park, British Columbia. Alerted by the screams, Ms. Bailey, Messrs Dauk, Richmond and Westervelt and Maj Smerychynski raced to the scene where a bear had killed a woman and severely injured her son, and was savagely mauling a man who had tried to help. Ms. Bailey immediately began tending to the wounded while the men approached the enraged animal and attempted to scare it off by yelling and stabbing at it with sticks. The beast temporarily released its prey and lunged at Mr. Dauk, then returned to the victim and continued clawing and biting him, inflicting fatal injuries. Undeterred, the rescuers continued pounding on the animal, causing it to retreat. While Messrs. Dauk and Westervelt searched for a gun, Mr. Richmond, Maj Smerychynski and another man joined Ms. Baily in providing medical help to the boy. As they did so, the bear returned and tried to grab the bleeding child and his deceased mother but was driven away by a strong kick on the snout. The animal was attacking yet another victim when it was killed by a man who had arrived with a shotgun.