Bravery award for our heroes

TOO often the word hero is applied to almost anyone who does anything beyond the normal.

Sporting heroes, defence heroes, emergency service heroes, neighbourhood heroes ... the list goes on.

The Macquarie Dictionary definition of a hero is: a man (or woman) of great courage, admired for his (or her) noble deeds.

On Sunday Senior Constable John Dijkstra and two colleagues saw a bus crash off the road into Smiths Creek on Fearnley St, a waterway known to be inhabited by crocodiles.

The bus was quickly sinking and the driver was calling out for help.

Fortunately there were no passengers on board.

Without any thought to his own wellbeing, the police officer dived into the murky waters, while the two other officers stood watch on each side of the bank to keep a look out for crocodiles.

Sen-Constable Dijkstra said the driver was stuck, panicking and struggling to breathe.

But, using his training plus no doubt some adrenaline, the officer eventually pulled free the man and with another officer provided firstaid until an ambulance crew arrived.

“Crocodiles have been observed there in the past but our number-one priority was to get him out of the water and help him as best we can,” Sen-Constable Dijkstra told the Cairns Post.

His boss, Senior Sergeant Duane Amos, said the quick thinking of the officers involved likely saved the life of the bus driver.

We believe these “heroes”should be nominated for bravery awards. Nick Dalton Deputy editor