IMO Presents Exceptional Bravery at Sea Award to Canadian and Chilean Rescuers

César Flores Flores was selected for his role as rescue swimmer in an operation to rescue the crew of the M/V Rosita V, pictured here, in extremely dangerous, stormy conditions.

The International Maritime Organization on Monday presented the coveted Exceptional Bravery at Sea award to Canadian and Chilean rescuers involved in two separate rescues at sea during a ceremony at the IMO’s London headquarters.

As gCaptain reported in June, the award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea was awarded to Master Corporal Max Lahaye-Lemay, Master Corporal Marco Journeyman, and Sergeant Janick Gilbert, posthumously, for their role in rescue of two Inuit hunters stranded in the arctic waters of Northern Canada. All were of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron and were nominated by the Government of Canada. Both Master Corporal Max Lahaye-Lemay and Master Corporal Marco Journeyman were on hand to accept their certificates in person while Mélisa Lesquir, Sergeant Gilbert’s widow, and his mother, Diane Pageau Gilbert, accepted his certificate on his behalf.

The award was also given to Mr. César Flores Flores, a rescue swimmer in the aerial detachment of the Chilean Navy, for his role in the rescue of seven crewmembers of the Rosita V in stormy conditions. Mr. Flores was nominated by the Government of Chile. Flores received his certificate and award in person.

More details on the rescues that led to the award can be found HERE.

Also honored during the ceremony were the “highly commended” nominees including Wang Haijie of China, a diver with the rescue vessel Bei Hai Jiu 116 who rescued four fishermen trapped under water in the cabin of the capsized fishing vessel; the crew of the rescue ship Dong Hai Jiu 116, of China, for saving 12 crew members of a stranded containership in very difficult weather conditions, with the rescue boat capsizing in the process; and Coxswain Adrian Johannes Gunter, Crewman Leon Pretorius and Crewman Quentin Diener, who were volunteer crewmen on the South African rescue boat Queenie Paine who were involved in the risky search and rescue operation of four crew members of the catamaran yacht, Gulliver.

Click HERE for Photos from the Awards Ceremony

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