Louis Paul Courbron, one of the men who received a Commissioner's Award for Bravery on Tuesday for saving a young boy from drowning in the Yukon River, has kept in touch with the boy's family ever since the incident last August.

Courbron, 23, said in an interview today he and his cousin, Kimpton Gagnon, 20, were walking along the Millennium Trail in Whitehorse last August when they heard people 'screaming and screaming.'

Four Filipino families were walking along the trail that day when seven-year-old Myles Correos slipped and fell in the Yukon River.

Courbron said he and Gagnon tried to find out what was going on but 'the family was in shock (and) couldn't say a thing.'

Myles' parents, mother Josie and father Benji, jumped into the river to help their son. Benji was able to keep his son's head above water but was unable to resist the river's strong undertow.

Meanwhile, Courbron said, he and Gagnon kept 'running and running' along the trail to catch up with the body they saw in the river before jumping in.

Courbron said that the water was cold but because of his high adrenaline, he barely felt it.

They were able to get the boy to safe ground, said Courbron, but were unable to rescue his father.

'We knew somebody else was in the water,' said Courbron. 'We tried to look for him but (we) were already exhausted and shaking.'

RCMP officers arrived on the scene and performed first aid on the boy, said Courbron.

Benji's body was found about a week later.

Courbron said he was notified about his Commissioner's Award in early Decmber.

'I think it's great that people recognize what we did. It's really nice to be recognized. The ceremony was fun,' he added.

Since the tragedy, Courbron said, he has become close to the Correos family.

'We talk, we made connections. We keep in touch,' said Correos. He added that he and the Correos family attend the same church.

The Commissioner's office issued a statement saying that 'through their quick response and compassionate actions, (Courbron and Gagnon) were successful in returning a young boy to his mother's arms.'

Courbron, who is originally from Quebec, said he has been living in the Yukon for about five years.