Heroics turned into cop recruiting tool

Spence Kingi (L) is depicted by artis Otis Frizzell rescuing a quake survivor. Photo / Simon Baker

Constable Spence Kingi knew the person trapped in the collapsed central Christchurch bar in front of him was still alive. That's all he needed to know.

"He still had a pulse - that was very faint - and he was still breathing.

"I thought, 'I cannot leave him in there. He's got to be saved, he's got to be pulled out of there'."

The February 22 earthquake had just hit Christchurch when he arrived to find Jaime Gilbert, 22, lying trapped in the debris of verandah of the Iconic Bar.

Mr Kingi, 33, and others put aside the risk to themselves to "pull away a whole lot of bricks and rubble and the like" to get to Mr Gilbert.

"It wasn't until the first aftershock that I thought, 'This building could actually fall on me'.

"So we ... waited for the rubble to fall down. And then I went in the second time. And we managed to get him out.

"At the time you think, 'Yeah, he will pull through'. I know that when I left, [Mr Gilbert] was transported to the hospital, and on the way two other officers gave him CPR until he got there. I heard that he actually passed at the hospital."

Mr Kingi's exploits are depicted in a new work of street art in Christchurch by artist Otis Frizzell aimed at inspiring others to become police officers.

Taking in his likeness a few days ago, Mr Kingi said it was hard when he learned Mr Gilbert had not survived.

Mr Gilbert's sister, Amy Cooney - who got out of the building alive after holding her brother's hand in the rubble following the collapse - has praised his efforts.

Mr Kingi also helped to rescue a woman trapped in a lift shaft, and helped a man who was struck on the head by falling scaffolding.

"It ended up that he survived, and he was walking a couple of days later, I think."

Mr Kingi expects to get some ribbing from his colleagues for the artwork that he has inspired.