Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: December 16, 2004
• Invested on: June 24, 2005

John Lyle Hoar, M.B.
Richard Murphy, M.B.
Derek Daniel Nightingale, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On December 24, 2000, John Hoar, Richard Murphy and Derek Nightingale rescued a man from a burning two-storey heritage house, in Nelson, British Columbia. Mr. Murphy crawled upstairs in an attempt to reach his tenant's apartment, but, twice, the toxic black smoke drove him out. Meanwhile, Mr. Hoar and Mr. Nightingale had reached the scene and, in zero visibility, the trio formed a human chain to make their way inside. Although they were repeatedly forced back out for fresh air, the men succeeded in reaching the second floor, where the heat was intense. With Mr. Hoar as backup at the top of the stairs, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Nightingale crawled some 10 meters along the hallway until they found the victim in a bedroom. Choking and blinded by the smoke, the rescuers then dragged the unconscious man out to safety.