We’re home of the brave
Young divers and police officers among local heroes honoured
KURT Zietlow was just 20 when he and his mates tried desperately to rescue and revive their friend who had passed out and begun to sink during a free dive.
Two years on Kurt has been awarded with a national Bravery Medal for his actions, but told the Bulletin he doesn’t feel much like a “hero”.
The 22-year-old said he still struggled with the loss of his good mate, Sam Brown, who couldn’t be revived after the Moreton Bay tragedy.
Friends Liam Slack, who was also honoured yesterday, Chadd Collins and Kurt took turns at manning the boat and diving to retrieve Sam, who had blacked out.
But by the time they hauled the 19-year-old’s body back on board, it was too late.
Kurt said, for him, the loss was almost too much to bear, coming just four years after his adopted brother, also named Sam, drowned at a Northern NSW beach.
Orphan Samuel Mwangi Macharia Zietlow, 16, was plucked from the slums of Kenya as part of a Tweed Shire Council mentoring program.
“To be honest, I didn’t really want it (the award),” he said.
“I just sort of did what any other mate would do in those circumstances.
“I have come to terms with it. It’s sort of a hard thing.
“I still spear fish … it’s just one of those freak accidents.
“I was on the boat (when he was brought up) Liam and Chad took more of a risk.”
Kurt said he was surprised and saddened by the whole situation.
“I wasn’t expecting it (the award). It’s not something that I am too proud of, just because of the circumstances,” he said.
The actions of Sam Brown’s friends were praised by his father years after the incident. Yet, the State Coroner will still hold an inquest into Brown’s death scheduled to take place at Southport Court next month.
Also recognised at the annual Australian Bravery Awards were five Gold Coast police officers and a member of the public involved in an armed robbery at the Arundel Tavern in September 2013.
Senior Constable Stephen James Cook and Sergeant Gary Harold Hamrey, who