Feats of bravery honoured at awards
A man who braved pounding seas to rescue a distressed swimmer, an alpine team which hauled three climbers away from avalanche danger and a backcountry group who waded through chilly rivers to reach stranded trampers have all been honoured for their bravery.
Their feats were acknowledged at Parliament last night at the annual New Zealand Search and Rescue Council’s awards.
Ray Burge, from Coastguard Northern Region, received a Gold Award for his courage in dragging a man from heavy seas at an Auckland beach.
Burge jumped into the water when he saw a man waving for help at Maraetai’s Waiomanu Beach on December 11 last year. The man got into difficulty when he went to help his wife who was struggling in the surf. He swam 200m to reach the man and pulled him to safety.
The woman was picked up by a coastguard rescue boat.
The council said: “Ray performed this heroic act of bravery and life-saving actions safely and effectively. His coastguard knowledge meant that he was highly experienced in search and rescue and was able to manage the situation, performing life-saving actions. “There is little doubt that Ray’s actions saved
two people from drowning.”
Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue, a police team and the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust were given a Certificate of Achievement after getting three people to safety after they were hit by an avalanche last September.
Rescuers had to cross two avalanche courses as debris fell on them to get to the tourists.
Senior Constable Vaughan Smith threw himself over one of the trampers to protect them and was hit by a large slab of ice.
Another rescuer, Michael Johns, was also injured.
The crew members have been lauded for their efforts.
“They carried out one of their most challenging jobs and longest winch, in failing light, with the risk of dislodging debris on the rescue team.”
A team of rescuers who tramped seven hours in the dark, including an hour in a chest-high river, to reach two trampers in the Ruahine Ranges on October 5 last year also were given a certificate.
The rescuers waded for an hour in the Makaroro River and clambered down 480 metres of rock, shingle, tussock and leatherwood to get to the trampers. They found the pair about 3am and stabilised them. At daybreak, the rescuers started trying to move them out. It took 4-5 hours to cover 500 metres.
For all award details go to nzherald.co.nz