Tauranga cop honoured for harbour leap

HERO: Prime Minister John Key, with Senior Constable Deane O'Connor, and crash survivor Ashley Donkersley at the NZ Police Association Bravery Awards yesterday.PHOTO/LANCE LAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY

In 2013, Senior Constable Deane O'Connor jumped blindly into icy waters from Maungatapu Bridge to save the life of crash victim Ashley Donkersley. Yesterday, he received the highest honour in policing for his heroic act of bravery.

Quick thinking, adrenaline and a childhood spent swimming swollen rivers proved useful for Deane O'Connor when he jumped into the icy waters of Tauranga Harbour to save a man.

Courage helped too. Courage so exceptional, the Tauranga senior constable yesterday received the country's highest bravery award for police.

Senior Constable O'Connor said it also took a bit of courage when he was called up to the stage to receive his New Zealand Police Association Bravery Award in Wellington.

The award was presented by Prime Minister John Key in recognition of his efforts in saving Maungatapu Bridge crash survivor Ashley Donkersley.

On August 12, 2013 an oncoming car hit the van Mr Donkersley and Greg Woledge, 24, were travelling in on the bridge causeway and sent it through the railing, into the harbour.

I didn't realise what I did was such a huge deal but the response has been massive and to have the award presented to me by the Prime Minister is pretty cool.

Deane O'Connor

Mr O'Connor, who was the first officer to arrive at the crash scene, stripped to his underwear and leapt into the icy water.

Mr Donkersley, 23, was unresponsive when Mr O'Connor found him. Mr O'Connor kept Mr Donkersley afloat for 45 minutes, telling him jokes as he battled strong currents in the dark.

"I didn't want him to know how petrified I really was,' Mr O'Connor said.

Mr Woledge, who was trapped inside the van, died.

Mr O'Connor told the Bay of Plenty Times he was overcome with emotion as he was welcomed on to the stage with a standing ovation.

The wreckage of the van involved in the crash which killed Greg Woledge in 2013. Photo/file

"It's pretty humbling and quite overwhelming standing in front of so many people, including all the overseas dignitaries, a large number of your peers and all the cameras and everyone's smiling at you. I'd much rather have jumped off it [a bridge] than stand here in the spotlight, it's just not me.

"I didn't realise what I did was such a huge deal but the response has been massive and to have the award presented to me by the Prime Minister is pretty cool."

Memories of that fatal day came flooding back, he said.

The award was made more poignant as Mr Donkersley and his partner just had a daughter, Millie. Mr Donkersley also attended.

- Additional reporting John Weekes of APNZ