The workers were travelling between Bathurst and Eel River on Nov. 10, 2004 when they came upon a two-vehicle accident, and discovered a man trapped in an overturned van.

"We were just at the right spot at the right time," said Daniel Doiron, a supervisor for the NB Power's transmission line maintenance crew and one of the five men on the scene that day.

The crew used fire extinguishers for their trucks to get the flames under control until they could pull the man free. Then, they attended to the driver and provided first aid until emergency personnel arrived. He has since made a full recovery.

On Monday, the five men were recognized for courage and bravery "of the highest order" by Canada's Governor General Michaelle Jean. The award was presented by New Brunswick's Lieutenant-Governor Hermenegilde Chiasson during a ceremony at Old Government House in Fredericton.

"Your story has touched me - and so many in our province, I am sure - greatly and deeply," Chiasson said in a ceremonial address. "You have displayed the best of what it is to be human: care, comfort, compassion and courage."

"At a time when our society is in search of heroes your experience is incredibly moving."

NB Power president and CEO David Hay said the actions were a reflection of the public utility's emphasis on safety, training, and team co-ordination. But he stressed that the men's actions took "great bravery" that went well beyond their job descriptions.

"It was a pretty frightening episode," said Rene Doucette, a power line technician and another of the award recipients. "The look on that man's face when you first get there, just the look of despair that he had. Your reaction is always to run away when you see a human in that kind of despair, but luckily we had the training."

Along with Doiron and Doucette, power line technicians Luc Bujold and Glen Worrall, and crew leader Rod Trenholm, were also honoured.

"These guys, they're just naturally heroic - the stuff they do every day," said Ross Galbraith, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 37, the union that represents the five men.

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Posted April 28 2009, Source ,