Heroes among us
The Herald’s New Zealander of the Year has been celebrating those who make an outstanding contribution to this country and beyond for 25 years. This year, together with our radio partner The Hits, we are introducing a People’s Choice Award. The stories of the 10 nominees have been published throughout the year — except for that of Ross Andrew and Simon Ashton. Here is their story
When a truck plunged 50 metres into the Manawatu Gorge it seemed certain rescuers would be searching for the bodies of the two people inside.
Instead, when Senior Constable Ross Andrew arrived first on the scene he peered through the broken barrier to see two survivors in a desperate situation.
He scrambled down the bank and braved the icy conditions to help haul a woman from the truck and get her to the safety of land.
He then went back into the water to help the trapped driver.
By this time Constable Simon Ashton had arrived. Using a thin piece of rope he abseiled down the bank and helped to get the driver on to the roof of the truck cab. There they stayed for more than an hour, keeping the injured driver safe until they could all be winched to safety.
Andrew and Ashton refused interviews at the time.
They insisted they were not heroes but simply doing their jobs.
They spoke to the Weekend Herald after being nominated for the New Zealander of the Year, Hits People’s Choice Award.
Andrew has been a police officer for almost 18 years and says that the rescue in June was the most terrifying thing he has been confronted with.
“It’s instinctive — I knew I had to do something; I couldn’t stand there looking pretty.”
He says the training kicked in and he acted on instinct. And even though hindsight has offered him some technical aspects he would do differently, he says he wouldn’t hesitate to do the same again.
“It’s who I am and what I do for a job.” The crash happened on July 7. Both the driver and his passenger, aged in their 40s, survived thanks to Andrew and Ashton — both of whom are quick to credit many others involved in the rescue. Both officers suffered hypothermia after spending so long in the cold water.
Ashton told the Weekend Herald that he arrived at the scene with very little information and at first thought the accident had been cleared.
“Then I saw part of the barrier was missing. I remember to this day looking down and seeing the truck and trailer in the water and Ross scrambling down the bank.”
Ashton says it was a split- second decision to abseil down to help — and even now he struggles with the memory of it.
“It’s difficult to put in words what went on that day. I was in awe of what I was seeing. Everything was against us.”
Ashton, a police officer for six years, agrees that instinct played a part.
“I cannot describe it. I saw Ross and t wo people down there and, simply, I knew I could get there and help.”