Two Denman firefighters who risked their lives when they entered a swollen river in the Upper Hunter to save a teenage girl have been formally recognised for their heroics.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) on-call personnel Gavin Bright and Justin Medcalf were among more than 120 people honoured on St Florian’s Day (4 May).
The pair, and their crew, rushed to the Hunter River at Denman just before noon on 2 December 2022 after receiving reports that three children were at risk of drowning.
When they arrived on-scene, they immediately located and secured two boys on a log.
As for the youngsters’ friend, however, it was a different story.
The 14-year-old girl had become trapped against timber debris and struggling to hold her head above water, about 18m from the riverbank.
Braving the same harsh conditions, Bright followed his offsider into the water, fitting the distressed teenager with a rescue harness.
During a special event at the City of Sydney Fire Station on Thursday, FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter presented both firefighters with Commendations for Courageous Action, acknowledging their actions saved the teenage girl’s life.
Medcalf kitted up in a harness, on rope, and fought against extreme currents as he swam out and released her foot from the root ball of a fallen tree.
The duo stayed with the children until NSW SES in-water rescue specialists could retrieve them.
“If both men hadn’t entered the water so quickly to render assistance, it would certainly have been a tragic outcome,” he said.
“I understand she was in a state of distress, with just her face out and constantly going under.
“It would have been very confronting for the girl.
“But, Gavin and Justin rose to the occasion.
“Even after they rescued her, they waited until all the children were out of danger.
“When you hear about the incidents for which our people are being recognised, you get an appreciation for the difficult and traumatic situations they may have to confront on any given day.”
Another 10 firefighters were acknowledged for their response to a fatal house fire in Glendenning, in Sydney’s west, in June last year.
The incident, which occurred just three days into winter, tragically claimed the lives of a 74-year-old woman and her wheelchair-bound 77-year-old husband.
Through their courageous and selfless actions, the responding crews gave the victims their best chance of survival and treated them with dignity.
The members from Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Regentville fire stations were presented with Unit Commendations for Meritorious Service.
St Florian’s Day is named after the Patron Saint of firefighters and is traditionally the day FRNSW formally recognises staff who’ve played a special role in protecting the community.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said each of the award recipients had put others’ lives before their own.
“The bravery, hard work and professionalism of our firefighters is extraordinary and while they don’t do it for the praise, they certainly deserve it,” he explained.
“It’s great to see them receive that recognition on this special day.”
For more news stories:
- Newcastle’s clean energy Port of the Future unveiled
- New vaping laws to save ‘a generation of nicotine dependency’
- From flooding to fame… Broke named one of NSW’s top tourist towns
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
