Canada honours Jamaican heroes

TWO JAMAICANS were among 58 people who have received Decorations of Bravery awards from David Johnston, governor general of Canada.

A release from Johnston's office yesterday indicated that Wayne Reynolds and Jubal Daley, both of Negril,Westmoreland, were awarded the Medal of Bravery.

On December 13, 2008, Daley, Reynolds and Twain Wright (a resident of the United States) rescued a woman from a possible drowning after her husband, Eric Roy, lost his life trying to reach her "in the tumultuous waves of the Caribbean Sea" in Negril. In the early hours of the morning, the woman was standing on the veranda of her beachfront hotel, taking pictures of the turbulent sea conditions, when a huge wave pulled her into the water. Her husband jumped in to try and save her, but after a lengthy battle against the raging waves, he disappeared beneath the surface. Other guests at the hotel heard the woman's cries and threw a life ring to her, which helped her stay afloat.

Great difficulty

"Daley, Reynolds and Wright then arrived at the scene and entered the water, fighting against the surge to reach the unconscious victim as she was tossed against the rocks," the release said. "With great difficulty, they managed to get her to the shore and up the cliff to safety, where they called for help. Sadly, Mr Roy did not survive the ordeal."

Johnston's office noted that 56 people received the Medal of Bravery while two persons were awarded the Star of Courage.

The Decorations for Bravery were created in 1972 to recognise people who risked their lives to try to save or to protect the lives of others. The Cross of Valour (CV) recognises acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril; the Star of Courage (SC) recognises acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril; and the Medal of Bravery (MB) recognises acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.