The bravery of three people will be recognised by Governor-General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, at a ceremony in Wellington tomorrow (Friday 28 June 2013.
The Governor-General will host an award ceremony for the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand at Government House Wellington. As Patron of the Society, Sir Jerry Mateparae will present individual Silver Medals to Fire Station Officer Brett Delamere and Senior Constable Michael Johnston, and a Bronze Medal to Rural Fire Officer Eric Spittal.
Those being honoured were involved in two separate incidents where they put their own lives at risk to save others. On 6 October 2008 on State Highway 1 near Oamaru, Mr Delamere and Mr Spittal rescued people trapped inside a burning car that had hit a power pole and was electrically live. On 1 January 2012, Mr Johnston attempted to save the life of Dion Latta who was trapped under a waterfall in the Motutapu Gorge near Wanaka.
Since its inception in 1898, the Society has bestowed more than 2100 awards for acts of bravery where the rescuers have put their own lives at risk to assist others whose lives were in peril. Twenty-one gold medals, 226 silver medals and 719 bronze medals and 1152 certificates have been issued to date.
The ceremony will begin at 2pm on Friday 28 June 2013.
Media wanting to attend must contact Rebecca Burke on (021) 847-018 by 10am on 28 June to register their attendance. Media are reminded that a reasonable standard of dress is expected at Government House.