3536 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 119 20 OCTOBER 2006

with the trampers as the latter were not in a fit state to move
and the weather was still too bad for a helicopter rescue that
day. They also knew that there may well be only a short
window in the weather in which to make the helicopter
pick-up and only those personnel that could fit into one
helicopter lift could safely remain at the rescue site. These
personnel spent another night out and were recovered by the
helicopter the following morning.

Although the actions of Mr Pickering had initially saved the
lives of Mr Painting and his son, it is doubtful if his efforts,
without adequate equipment, would have been enough to
keep Mr Painting alive for the further 22 hours before rescue
occurred. The efforts of the second search and rescue team
probably saved the lives of Mr Painting and his son, and Mr
Pickering.

Note to Citation: In January 2005, Mr Pickering was
awarded The New Zealand Bravery Decoration for his part
in this rescue. The three members of the first search team
were each awarded the New Zealand Bravery Medal for
their unsuccessful rescue attempt.

Keran Mana DURRANT, of Royal Palm, Florida, United
States of America
Lately Able Hydrographic Systems Operator, Royal
New Zealand Navy

Tyson Wiremu JOB, of Devonport
Able Chef, Royal New Zealand Navy

Citation

On the morning of 16 August 2004, Able Hydrographic
Systems Operator (AHSO) Durrant and Able Chef Job were
in a group of 22 members of the ship’s company of HMNZS
Endeavour undertaking a routine lifeboat drill in Sydney
Harbour. As the lifeboat was about to be lowered into the
water, it suddenly released from the lifeboat launch system
and plunged 10 metres into the water. On the way it struck
the ship’s side, turned over and landed in the water upside
down. During the course of this violent descent, AHSO
Durrant suffered severe lacerations to his head and face.
Able Chef Job suffered a significant impact to his chest, a
laceration to his face and bruising to his left leg. Both were
shaken from being tossed around in the falling craft as well
as suffering from their injuries. In the face of considerable
danger and confusion, however, both men coolly and
deliberately remained in the upturned lifeboat, ensured that
all the occupants had made their escape and
no-one had been left behind. They then made their own
escape by which time the exit hatch of the lifeboat had
become submerged, the glass window had broken, water
was pouring into the boat and there was a danger of
becoming trapped inside. Nevertheless, they remained calm
throughout. Once clear of the boat, they made their way to
safety. Afterwards, both men elected to re-enter the water to
assist with the recovery of other members of the crew. By
ensuring the safety of other crew members ahead of their
own, AHSO Durrant and Able Chef Job displayed
considerable bravery and may possibly have saved the lives
of several of their ship-mates, who could have been trapped
as the lifeboat filled with water.

Kali Peaua FUNGAVAKA

Citation

On 22 August 2005 sometime after 1.00 p.m., a young
woman was working alone at the Shell Service Station in
Atkinson Avenue, Otahuhu. A man who had recently
formed a relationship with her arrived at the station and
placed an LPG cylinder outside the front door. He then
bought petrol for another person who had taken him to the
service station. He walked away from the shop, returning
shortly afterwards, collected the gas cylinder and walked
inside. He placed the cylinder on the floor at the end of the
counter where the woman was working and an argument
then ensued between them, which developed into a struggle.
The woman tried to run outside but the man, while holding a
packet of matches in his hand, blocked her path. He then
closed the front doors. A member of the public arrived and
saw the doors closed, and witnessed the young woman
screaming as she struggled with the offender. She was
dragged to the location of the LPG cylinder and, after trying
to get away several times, was finally overpowered and
pulled back by the hair, at which time she fell backwards
into the ice cream refrigerator. She was then forced back to
the place where the LPG cylinder was located. At that point,
she was engulfed in a ball of flame to the top half of her
body, head and face, while the offender received some burns
to his face and left hand, before he leapt over the counter to
make his escape. The young woman then crawled out of the
shop and collapsed on the forecourt outside, with the flames
still burning fiercely.

Some passers-by, including Kali Peaua Fungavaka, saw
what had occurred. Mr Fungavaka wet his jumper under a
tap and tried to extinguish the flames that were burning the
young woman. When this was unsuccessful, he entered the
shop and got a fire extinguisher, which was beside the gas
cylinder. This was burning and flames were coming from its
nozzle. Using the extinguisher, he was able to extinguish the
flames burning the young woman after which he re-entered
the shop and extinguished the fire inside, despite the fact
that the shop was filling with smoke. The young women
subsequently died of multiple burns.

Mr Fungavaka displayed bravery in retrieving the fire
extinguisher from the shop in order to attempt to save the
life of the young woman. He also extinguished a fire which
posed a danger to himself and to five other members of the
public who were present by that time.

Dion Wayne PALMER
Staff Sergeant, Royal New Zealand Army Education Corps

Citation

On the afternoon of 17 January 2004, Staff Sergeant Palmer
and his family were visiting Himatangi Beach. At about
2.30 p.m., he heard calls for help and saw a young boy and
an adult male in difficulties about 50 metres off-shore and
about one kilometre south of the flagged area of the beach.
Despite a strong undertow, and at considerable risk to
himself, he swam about 150 metres before reaching the pair.
As both the man and the boy, who was 7 years old, appeared
calm, Staff Sergeant Palmer took hold of the boy and began
swimming with him back to shore, assuming that the man
would follow. Having safely reached the beach with the boy,
he discovered that the man had disappeared among the large
waves. At this stage, local lifeguards appeared on the scene.
Although he was exhausted by his earlier swim in very
difficult conditions, he assisted the lifeguards on their safety
boat in an unsuccessful attempt to find the man.

A police investigation into the tragedy states that, had it not
been for Staff Sergeant Palmer’s prompt action and in
putting his own life at risk, two people would have lost their
lives.

Shaun Paul SEXTON
Squadron Leader, Royal New Zealand Air Force

Citation

On the evening of 3 June 2004, Squadron Leader Sexton
was captain of an Iroquois helicopter tasked to assist with
the rescue of a Royal Australian Navy seaman, who had
suffered serious spinal injuries after falling down a ravine
on the Florida Islands, part of the Solomon Islands group.
Attempts by others to complete a rescue in daylight had
been unsuccessful, but because of the critical nature of the