A Kincardine man has been honoured with a Medal of Bravery.

Bill McKeag was presented with the medal by Govenor General David Johnston Friday in Ottawa during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. He was one of 44 Canadians to be recognized for performing an act of bravery in hazardous circumstances. The ceremony marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the decorations for bravery.

McKeag was honoured with the Medal of Bravery for his efforts on Sept. 7, 2008 to rescue Michael Hancock in Lake Huron, off the Kincardine shoreline. The Kitchener man had swum out into the lake to try and rescue his daughter who had run into trouble swimming in rough water while the family was spending the day at the beach. Seeing the pair in trouble McKeag and Ronald Walton, of Elmira, had put on lifejackets and maneuvered their small craft towards the swimmers. The waves swamped their boat, forcing the men to get into the water and swim out towards Hancock and his daughter. The man managed to get hold of Hancock, who had lost consciousness, and bring him to shore, while another man, Jason Phillips, of Kincardine, had also swum out and brought the girl back to the beach where she was revived.

Unfortunately, Hancock did not survive.

Phillips and Walton received Medals of Bravery for their heroic efforts during a previous ceremony.