Junao Zhang
On 7th May 2016, Terry Lockley lost consciousness while he was driving his car, and the vehicle drove through wooden bollards into the Waikato River.
Mr Nan Xia and Mr Junao Zhang, who were at the nearby Mobil Service Station, saw what had happened. They ran to the river and Mr Zhang swam to the driver’s door of the car while Mr Xia swam to the passenger’s door. They tried to direct the car to a shallow area nearby, but the current pushed the vehicle a further 150 metres north. The front of the car soon began to sink in deep water.
Mr Xia freed Mrs Lockley, who made her own way to the river bank and was assisted by members of the public. Mr Xia swam to the driver’s door to assist Mr Zhang.
Despite all their efforts, the car sank completely in about two metres of water. The submerged vehicle and the body of Mr Lockley were recovered by the Police Dive squad later that evening.
The river was moving swiftly due to an outgoing tide, and had Mr Zhang and Mr Xia not been there, Mrs Lockley would have lost her life. Mr Zhang and Mr Xia risked their lives and could have been sucked down with the car when it sank. Both men showed immense bravery and courage in trying to save Mr Lockley’s life.