Senior Constable Scott Quate
On the 19th of August 2017, a vehicle towing a trailer left the road and went through a barrier into the Waikato River, near Cambridge.
Senior Constable Scott Quate, who was off duty at the time, arrived at the scene and saw bystanders on the bridge and bank looking into the river.
He observed a man struggling in the river and calling for help, and then saw a body of a woman floating to the surface.
Senior Constable Quate clambered down the steep bank to the river, where the current pushed him towards the two people.
By holding onto a branch in the water, he assisted the man in holding the woman’s head above water. However, because of the swift current, they were unable to get the woman to the riverbank.
Senior Constable Quate was able to secure the woman with ropes provided by members of the public, who then pulled them to the riverbank. They managed to lift the woman part-way up the steep bank, where Senior Constable Quate proceeded to give CPR.
They then moved her to more stable ground where paramedics took over. The woman was taken to hospital in a critical condition. She did not survive the accident.
Senior Constable Quate entered a deep and fast-flowing river to rescue two people, without regard to his own safety. His timely actions ensured that one person was successfully rescued and the second was given the chance to receive medical care.