Northland rescuer forms bond with saved youngsters

Dudley Andrews, Wiremu Bennett-Hati, Rex Haora Pairama and the boys' grandmother, Janet Morunga. Photo supplied to Northland Age.

Dudley Andrews, who all agree saved the lives of two small boys at Waipapakauri Ramp on March 1, has won the Upper North Island Pride of New Zealand award in the bravery and heroism category.

The 37-year-old former soldier, now a teacher at Kaitaia College, said while it meant a great deal to be recognised by his peers, the real trophy was saving 5-year-old Rex Haora Pairama and his 6-year-old cousin Wiremu Bennett-Hati. Since the rescue, he had got to know the Kaitaia Primary School pupils, their first encounter providing another special experience.

"When I met them for the first time after the rescue, one of the boys said to his nana, 'is that Mr Andrews?' and the nana goes, 'Yeah, it is.' And the boy said, 'No it's not, because the man who saved me had wings'," he said.

Three weeks later he met the boys and members of their family at school, with Rex, Wiremu and their classmates welcoming him and offering him letters of thanks.

Principal Brendon Morrissey presented him with a certificate recognising his heroism and expressing the gratitude of the boys' school, family and friends.

Mr Andrews and his family had been heading to Ahipara to gather tuatua when they saw a child had been swept out beyond the surf at Waipapakauri Ramp. A man who, according to police, had been keeping an eye on the boys had gone into the water but could not swim, and needed rescuing.

The first youngster was 50 or 60m beyond the breakers, on his back and kicking, but was going under the water. Mr Andrews assured him, as he got close, he was there to help him and he would be okay, then comforted him as he paddled him back to reunite him with his family.

"Before I got back to the beach, I saw people further up pointing. I thought they were warning me about a rip, but there was another boy, about 100m out from the surf," he said.

He, too, was on his back and kicking, but going under. Mr Andrews went back into the water, this time accompanied by a surfer with a board.

"He disappeared 10 or 15 seconds before I got to him but I managed to grab hold of his hair, then his hand, and pulled him back to the surface. He was crying by the time we got him on the surfboard, which I thought was a good sign," he added.

Both boys were examined by St John staff and declared to have survived unscathed, although Mr Andrews said they had been on the verge of drowning when he got to them.

"People relax when they know they are about to be rescued, and that's when they drown," he said.

At school he told the boys he was now part of their whanau, and that they were the real heroes. They had known to float on their backs, to kick and not to panic. All he had to do was pick them up, put them on his board and get them back to the beach. In May, when he received a Police District Commander's citation from Superintendent Russell Le Prou, Mr Andrews said he had been prepared to die when he entered the water.

"I made peace with the possibility that I would not survive. I told my daughter that I loved her," he said.

The national Pride of New Zealand awards will be presented on September 16, while public voting for the TSB Bank People's Choice Award will open on Monday.