Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: December 6, 2007
• Invested on: September 19, 2008

John Austin Thriepland, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On April 7, 2006, John Thriepland rescued a suicidal man who had jumped from a ferry into the freezing water of the Ottawa River, in Quebec. Mr. Thriepland jumped into the strong current that was thick with chunks of ice. He swam out to the unconscious victim, who was drifting dangerously close to a hydroelectric dam, retrieved him from under the surface and brought him back to the stopped ferry, where they were pulled back onboard. Although physically exhausted, Mr. Thriepland then performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the victim. Rushed to hospital, the victim fully recovered, thanks to Mr. Thriepland's quick response.