O'LOUGHLIN David Leonard

CITATION

New Zealand Bravery Medal

Special Honours List 29 January 2005

At about 1.15 p.m. on 11 July 2002, Mr O'Loughlin and a companion were in a vehicle driving in a southerly direction along State Highway One between Whakapara and Hukerenui. Immediately in front of him was a vehicle containing two women. Suddenly the women's vehicle veered to the left, careered over a metal guard barrier and off the side of a bridge. The vehicle then travelled some distance in the swollen river before came to rest almost fully submerged. Mr O'Loughlin immediately stopped and without regard for his own safety plunged into the water and managed to rescue one of the women from the sinking vehicle. He swam her back to the safety of the riverbank and then returned to the then submerged vehicle to attempt to retrieve the other woman. He made about five attempts, but was unsuccessful. He and his companion then comforted the rescued woman until the Police and an ambulance arrived.

KNOWN AWARDS

New Zealand Bravery Medal

NOTES

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Died:

THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT