KEY POINTS:
Peter Jackson is used to treating injured animals, but when confronted with badly injured people after a fatal boat collision in Sydney Harbour, he went to work in just the same way.
Mr Jackson, a Nelson veterinarian, and his wife, Sandy, a veterinary nurse, have won high praise for going to the aid of victims of the horrific crash last Wednesday when no one else was there to help.
"I guess emotionally it is a very different thing [to treating animals]. But practically, actually it's not. At the time, it's practicality that takes over. I do see injuries like that, and you deal with it. You have your basic medical knowledge and it's pretty much the same whether it's a person or animal."
Among those the couple helped was Australian Olympic ice skater Liz Cain, who lost her leg in the collision between a HarbourCat ferry and a 10-metre private boat beneath the Harbour Bridge. Three people were killed in the collision and a 14-year-old girl is still missing.
The Jacksons, holidaying in Sydney, were on board the Golden Grove ferry that went to the scene of the crash to try to help. They came across a wooden cruiser boat that had mostly sunk.
"There was a lot of debris and people and whatnot in the water, and shouting. It became apparent they needed help on the boat that had run into the pleasure craft," Mr Jackson said.
Anyone with medical knowledge was called on to help.
"We did look at each other for about two seconds, and then thought, 'Well, we just have to go. There's nobody else.' So that's what you do."
The couple found four people, including Ms Cain and another injured woman nearby.
Mrs Jackson, experienced at dealing with upset people, went to Ms Cain and comforted her for up to 30 minutes until more help arrived.
"Her foot had been ... amputated is the best word really, at the ankle, so that was a complete and utter mess. And the other leg was twisted and broken. She was very cold, so it was a case of making sure she wasn't bleeding too badly. She was conscious, but unintelligible really. She must have been in a lot of pain."
Reports said that Sydney police would seek official recognition for the Jacksons, but Mr Jackson does not see his and his wife's efforts as special.
"We just did what you would hope anyone else with a little bit of knowledge would do.
"There were others that rescued people out of the water who probably deserve a little bit more [praise] than us."
The couple hoped to be able to catch up with Ms Cain later "but at the moment it's still pretty raw all round".
