Officer braved croc threat to save man
Award recognition of selfless actions to rescue driver of crashed bus
HIS favourite boots were ruined and his clothes needed a good wash, but Cairns police Sen-Constable John Dijkstra reckons he did not pause for a second when he plunged into a creek known for crocodiles to save a man.
He and two colleagues were driving in Spence St at Bungalow in September 2018 when they watched a bus perform a U-turn and plunge into Smiths Creek near Fearnley St.
It was right on dusk, there was a king tide, the rain was pouring and the bus was quickly engulfed up to its roofline.
His colleagues pulled out torches to spotlight the darkening area and Mr Dijkstra yanked off his utility belt, concerned his Taser might zap him under water, before plunging into the swollen creek, pulling the terrified bus driver to safety through his smashed front windscreen.
Yesterday his quick-thinking efforts were acknowledged with a bravery award during the combined Queensland Police and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ award ceremony in Cairns.
“It’s humbling but I think it’s an acknowledgment for all the work being done up here (by police),” he said.
“A lot of it goes unrecognised. At the end of the day all you want to do is help this guy out.”
Sen-Constable Dijkstra said they were initially concerned there may be others on the bus and they could hear the driver shouting for help and gurgling for breath when they arrived.
He said they later found out he had been attempting to avoid two people crossing the road when he performed the manoeuvre.
He conceded he did not think about the threat of crocodiles, which are known to frequent the waterway, when he jumped in.
Sen-Constable Dijkstra went to Cairns Hospital to visit the driver the day afterwards and said he was shaken, but had not suffered any serious injury.
Among other police award recipients yesterday was Sgt Adam Woods who received an Assistant Commissioner’s certificate for co-ordinating the investigation into an alleged murder at Mt Garnet in 2018.
QFES recognised 25 staff with 31 medals including seven people who worked at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“The job of an emergency services first responder isn’t easy,” Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford said.
“That’s why we honour our frontline men and women for their hard work and selflessness in assisting the community in times of need,” he said.