Award thrills grieving dad
Trio honoured for efforts in recovering diving mate’s body
Three Gold Coast men will be honoured with a prestigious award for their heroic effort to bring the lifeless body of their Kiwi friend back to his family after a speardiving tragedy two years ago.
Sam Brown died aged 19 in March 2015 after he blacked out while returning to the surface near Moreton Island in Queensland.
The former North Shore teen, who moved with his family to Australia in 2007, couldn’t be saved.
But Brown’s Tauranga-based father, Wayne Brown, said he felt “lucky” to be able to bury his son.
News his son’s three friends, Chadd Collins, Liam Slack and Kurt Zietlow, have been awarded Silver Medals by the Royal Humane Society brought even more comfort, Wayne Brown told the Herald last night.
“All I want to do is see these boys get recognised for what they did.”
The trio made a plan and then spent 53 minutes working to return Brown to the surface after he sunk to the sea floor after the black out.
Their efforts included diving to depths of up to 30m seven times to retrieve Brown — all of it without oxygen tanks.
Collins went first, descending to the sea floor, unclipping his friend’s weight belt and pulling him towards the surface, Wayne Brown said.
He was met by the other men partway and the trio then tag-teamed to return Brown to the surface as water police arrived, he said.
Police were so impressed they encouraged Wayne Brown to nominate the men to The Royal Humane Society Australasia, for its bravery awards.
“These guys, they aren’t trained, they aren’t military. These are three guys that looked after a mate.”
Wayne Brown said he also wanted to get the message across that one bad decision out on the water could cost a life.
His “beautiful boy” had gone back to get his speargun after it became stuck in a rock, and then blacked out just before reaching the surface.
His son’s friends had also mentioned later the current was going the wrong way, but the trio still decided to go in.
“If something doesn’t feel right, don’t go. You’ve only got one life.”