2008 Award Recipients: Ira Moody Barkhouse and Arnold Whynott

Mr. Barkhouse and Mr. Whynott were working at the Rhodes Corner quarry when they witnessed an aircraft crash. Immediately both men headed to the scene of the accident with fire extinguishers.

Upon arrival, the pilot of the aircraft was unresponsive but the passenger was trapped and trying to free himself. A fire soon ignited in the nose of the aircraft, however Mr. Barkhouse and Mr. Whynott fought the fire with extinguishers until their devices were almost empty. Mr. Whynott ran back to get more fire extinguishers while Mr. Barkhouse continued to try and extinguish the fire.

It is estimated that the fuel tank had 40 litres of gasoline, and that fire had reached the gas, which could have exploded at any time killing the trapped passenger along with Mr. Barkhouse and Mr. Whynott.

Both men continued to try and extinguish the fire until fire, police and EHS arrived.