Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 28, 2013
• Invested on: December 05, 2013

Jakob Merkel, M.B. (posthumous)
Medal of Bravery

On November 20, 2010, Jakob Merkel entered his burning house to rescue his son, in La Broquerie, Manitoba. Mr. Merkel woke up to find the house filled with smoke from a fire that had started in the attached garage. After ensuring his wife and three of their children were safely outside, Mr. Merkel ran back inside to get his 13-year-old son from a basement bedroom. The fire had quickly spread to the house, and as Mr. Merkel and his son rushed to get outside, their clothing caught on fire, which neighbours were able to extinguish quickly. Sadly, Mr. Merkel did not survive, but his brave actions saved his son from perishing in the blaze that completely destroyed their house.