When a vehicle collision ignited his gas station, Comox Valley resident Junyi Liu rushed outside to rescue the trapped driver on the evening of May 20, 2023.
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In the following months, the 41-year-old man was awarded the Town of Comox害羞草研究所檚 Citizen Service Award and the .
Little did he know, Liu害羞草研究所檚 local act of heroism would eventually be recognized on the North American stage. On March 25, 2024, the Chinese-born man was awarded the prestigious and a one-time grant of US$5,500.
Junyi, the co-owner of Esso in , responded heroically to a fire, saving a life. Recognized by Town Council, he has now been awarded North America's top civilian honour by Carnegie Hero Fund. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Junyi!
害羞草研究所� Town of Comox (@TownofComox)
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 considered the highest honour for civilian heroism in North America,害羞草研究所� said Jewels Phraner, Carnegie Hero Fund Commission director of communication. 害羞草研究所淢ore than 10,000 medals have been given out over the course of the commission害羞草研究所檚 120-year history.害羞草研究所�
The requirements to be a recipient of this award are extremely stringent, explained Phraner.
害羞草研究所淎 person must voluntarily risk themselves to an extraordinary degree in saving or attempting to save another person,害羞草研究所� she said.
Following the incident, Liu told Black Press Media that despite the danger and initial fear, his instinct kicked in and the rest is history.
害羞草研究所淓verything I did was just automatic, I didn害羞草研究所檛 think about anything. It went so fast,害羞草研究所� Liu said in May 2023. 害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 think that I did something big. I think anyone else who would have been there would have done the same thing as I did.害羞草研究所�
According to Phraner, Liu害羞草研究所檚 story perfectly fits with the medal害羞草研究所檚 ethos.
害羞草研究所淭his was an extraordinary act and Junyi kept his wits about him. He risked his life to pull the driver out of this car that was completely covered in flames. I think that that speaks to his character and speaks to him as a person.害羞草研究所�
Scottish-American philanthropist and industrialist Andrew Carnegie started the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission initiative in 1904 to highlight civilian acts of heroism so they would not go unnoticed.
害羞草研究所淎ndrew Carnegie害羞草研究所� knew that he couldn害羞草研究所檛 (push) others to act heroically, but he thought that the world would be a better place if we all knew about害羞草研究所� these heroes,害羞草研究所� said Phraner.
害羞草研究所淲e have found that a lot of our heroes are extremely humble. They think that they did something that anyone would do and they were just in the right place at the right time,害羞草研究所� Phraner said. 害羞草研究所淚 think one of the biggest values of becoming a Carnegie hero is that we are an independent organization that can point to people and objectively say 害羞草研究所榃hat you did was special and brave.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所�
Black Press Media reached out to Liu for comments on receiving the award but did not receive a reply by deadline.
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