Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 15, 2011
• Invested on: February 24, 2012

Paul George Akehurst, M.B.
Constable Karen Mary Desaulniers, M.B.
Chief Warrant Offcer Anthony Eric Fequet, M.B., C.D. (Retired)
Sergeant Lorraine Fequet, M.B., C.D.
Constable Avery Curt Flanagan, M.B.
Warrant Offcer Marc Joseph Fortin, M.B., C.D. (Retired)
Constable Allen George Percival, M.B.
Major Ryan Denis Smid, M.B., C.D.
Medal of Bravery

On October 12, 2007, a minivan swerved off the road and plunged into the Rideau Canal, in Ottawa, Ontario. Witnesses to the accident, Lorraine and Tony Fequet jumped into the water to reach the driver, without any thought for their own safety. Through the partially opened window, Mrs. Fequet held the driver's head up out of the water just as Messrs. Akehurst, Fortin and Smid jumped in the canal to assist. While Messrs. Fortin and Smid tried repeatedly to break the vehicle's window, Mr. Akehurst reached in and unbuckled the man's seat belt. Constables Desaulniers, Flanagan and Percival then arrived on the scene, grabbed the seat cushion from their cruiser, and swam out to the van. With the help from the other rescuers, they brought the driver to shore using the cruiser seat as a flotation device. Sadly, the driver did not survive.