Dawn Rene Manning Medal of Bravery Ottawa, A woman who fought off a cougar that attacked her son was one of several Canadians to be honoured for their bravery Friday.
Dawn Rene Manning from Rossland, B.C., who saved her then five-year-old son, Simon Impey, from a cougar while hiking on Mount Abercrombie in the state of Washington in 2009, received the Medal of Bravery.
"It was just my son and I at the time; my husband and daughter were further up on the trail. We had stayed behind to pick berries," Manning said.
The cougar leapt out of bushes and attacked the boy. Running on instinct, Manning said, she began to pummel the animal with the metal water bottle her husband had left for them while "yelling like a banshee."
She said she did this until the beast ran back into the bush, saving her son.
Manning was one of the 38 people who Gov. Gen. David Johnston presented with Decorations for Bravery at Ottawa's Rideau Hall.
Johnston gave out two Stars of Courage and 36 Medals of Bravery to recognize the "selfless Canadians" who risked their lives to save or protect the lives of others.
Johnston said the recipients of the decorations for bravery acted on a "subconscious" level.
He said: "No time to think, no time to weigh the pros and cons. No time to measure the consequences or the changes of success. (They) saw a life in danger and (they) acted."
Manning agreed with his assessment.
"When I saw the cougar over my son 'mama bear mode' took over, I wasn't really thinking of what I was doing," she explained.
Her son, who is now seven years old, said, "We were very lucky. My mom is a hero and my dad is too for leaving the water bottle for us."
Rossland is about 300 kilometres southeast of Kelowna, B.C., near the U.S. border.
The three types of Decorations for Bravery — the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage and the Medal of Bravery — were created in 1972. There are two or three annual ceremonies to present these decorations.
The Star of Courage recognizes acts of "conspicuous courage during circumstances of great peril" whereas the Medal of Bravery recognizes acts of "bravery in hazardous circumstances."
Like Manning, each of those given a decoration for bravery has a story to tell.
When addressing the recipients in his opening speech, Johnston said, "What stories you have! Each is unique, yet each is a testament to your respect for life that compelled you to react immediately to a life-threatening situation.
"With little thought to your own well-being, you jumped in after drowning victims, plunged headlong into burning houses, searched through car wrecks, confronted armed assailants and even grappled a cougar."
Manning said she felt very honoured to receive the honour.
"Everyone here is incredible. I feel lucky to have been recognized along with these brave people," she said.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Dawn Rene Manning Medal of Bravery Ottawa
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