Police honour heroes

A RELUCTANT hero has been honoured by police for helping the victims of a crash.

Andrew Tsang, 39, was among four people presented with a certificate of appreciation at the Auckland Town Hall on May 22.

The Royal Oak resident went to the aid of two elderly Chinese people after they were hit by a car as they walked across a pedestrian crossing in February.

Tsang was walking with his father when he saw the crash on Mt Albert Rd and quickly offered help. He photographed the scene to help with the police investigation.

He also comforted the woman while her unconscious husband was treated ambulance staff.

‘‘I knew the old lady had a broken kneecap and someone wanted to shift her around but I told them to wait for the ambulance,’’ he says.

Tsang travelled with the woman to the hospital and continued to support and translate for her and staff

by until her family arrived.

The woman’s husband later died in hospital.

Tsang says he doesn’t like to think back to the day of the crash.

‘‘It’s sad because the gentleman died and his son told me it was the first time he’d gone overseas,’’ Tsang says.

The father-of-one refuses to be labelled as a hero.

‘‘I don’t want to be hero for this incident.

‘‘I was there and I was able to help and that’s it.’’

Ellerslie resident Harrison Sage, 21, received a certificate of appreciation for saving a young woman from drowning in the harbour off Queens Wharf in July last year.

Kirsten Ritchie and Jared Wooff were also recognised by police after they intervened to stop a man in Mt Wellington from taking his life in a parked vehicle in December.

Police commissioner Mike Bush and Police Minister Michael Woodhouse attended the award ceremony which also honoured 55 others for their service to the police.