Medal Of Bravery
The Medal of Bravery is awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. Post-nominal: M.B.
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Date of Instrument: March 25,1998 Date of Presentation: Sept 18, 1998
CADET BRYAN PHILLIP WILLIAM BALKAM
2553 OXFORD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CADET CORPS
OXFORD, NOVA SCOTIA
On June 25, 1997, 13-year-old Bryan Balkam rescued a friend from drowning in Salt Lake, Oxford, Nova Scotia. While swimming across the lake, Bryan's 12-year-old friend developed severe cramps and called for help as he struggled to keep afloat. The boy's mother attempted to rescue him but he pulled her underwater. In complete exhaustion and unable to help her son, she called Bryan for help. Although tired from swimming, Bryan did not hesitate to dive back in. As he headed towards the victim, he became entangled in eel-grass but managed to free himself. He reached his friend and grabbed him by the shoulders, but the panicked victim pulled him under. Once he resurfaced, Bryan turned on his back and began swimming with the bigger and heavier boy in tow. As they neared the shore, he tried to stand but could barely touch the bottom of the lake. He finally made his way towards the boy's mother who helped them out of the lake.
Le 25 join 1997, un adolescent de 13 ans, Bryan Balkam, a sauve un ami de la noyade dans Ie lac Salt, a Oxford (Nouvelle-Ecosse). Traversant Ie lac a la nage, l'ami de Bryan, un adolescent de 12 ans, flIt pris de crampes aigiies et il cria a l'aide tout en luttant pour ne pas s'enfoncer. La mere de l'adolescent tenta de Ie sauver, mais ill'entraina sous l'eau. A bout de souffle et incapable d'aider son fils, elle appela Bryan a l'aide. Bien que fatigue apres une baignade, Bryan n'hesita pas un instant a plonger de nouveau dans Ie lac. Alors qu'il se dirigeait vers la victime, il s'empetra dans des algues, mais il reussit a s'en degager. Ayant atteint son ami, Bryan l'agrippa par les epaules, mais celui-ci l'entraina sous l'eau. Revenu a la surface, Bryan se tourna sous Ie dos et se mit a Dager en trainant l'autre adolescent plus gros et plus lourd que lui. A l'approche du rivage, Bryan essaya de franchir Ie reste de la distance debout, mais ses pieds pouvaient a peine toucher Ie fond du lac. II reussit peniblement a se rendrepres de la mere de son ami qui les aida a sortir du lac.
