Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 26, 2002
• Invested on: September 12, 2003

Peter Gladden, M.B.
Paul Landry, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On July 31, 2001, Peter Gladden and Paul Landry risked their lives to rescue four hikers who were overcome by the current while crossing a fast-flowing river at the base of Turner Glacier in Auyuittuq National Park, Baffin Island, Nunavut. Messrs. Gladden and Landry were at their campsite when they saw the hikers being carried downstream into Glacier Lake. Using hiking poles, the rescuers crossed the forceful waters of a series of deep-braided rivers to reach a sand bar near the quicksand portion of the lake. They then removed part of their heavy, wet clothing and swam the ten metres that separated them from three of the hikers huddled together. As they pulled the trio to safety, they noticed that the fourth hiker was drifting farther out into the lake. Despite exhaustion and the onset of hypothermia, Messrs. Gladden and Landry dove back into the freezing water, made their way some 25 metres out to the unconscious victim, kept afloat by his backpack, and pulled him back to shore. Thanks to the efforts of Messrs. Gladden and Landry, all survived the ordeal.