A victim of the London Bridge terror attack, two paramedics who rescued a pair of skiers trapped in a blizzard and a former Sea World dolphin trainer have all received accolades in Australia’s annual bravery awards.
in July 2017, Katherine Brock was working on the movie set of Aquaman on the Gold Coast when she saw a runaway golf cart careering towards an animal handler and two donkeys.
Brock, aged 54 at the time, ran into the path of the golf cart and pushed against it to stop it hitting the animals. The cart hit her and she was dragged a distance before being pinned underneath it.
The former Sea World dolphin trainer suffered multiple fractures and broken ribs and her colleague had minor injuries. Brock made a full recovery.
She is among 101 Australians who are receiving bravery awards from Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove.
“I thank these Australians for their bravery. They are a source of courage, support and inspiration, and we are a stronger, safer and more caring nation because of them,” Cosgrove said.
“Sadly, there are some amongst today’s list whose brave acts mean they are no longer with us. To their families, I express the nation’s sadness at your loss but pride in your loved one’s actions.”
Among those on the honour list were nurse Kirsty Boden, who was killed in the 2017 London bridge terrorist attack. Group awards went to two state emergency service volunteers, three NSW police officers and two paramedics who rescued a pair of cross-country skiers trapped in a blizzard in Kosciusko national park in August 2010.
Nearly a metre of snow had fallen in the previous 36 hours and wind gusts were more than 100km per hour.
The rescue team of David Afele, senior constable Wayne Bolitho, senior constable Michael Hartas, Garry McKeahnie, Daniel Marsden, Kevin Martin and Paul Thompson encountered temperatures of -10C and had to build a snow bridge to cross a raging Snow River.
After searching in the dark on foot for several hours the team found the missing skiers at about 2am, partially buried in the snow and suffering hypothermia.
“We found them at the bottom, we just managed to see their torch light,” Thompson said.
The group helped the skiers down a steep slope to a rescue vehicle, which then navigated through deteriorating blizzard conditions, reaching safety four hours later.
“It’s beautiful country but it can bite you… if you get [the mountains] on the wrong day,” Thompson, an intensive care paramedic, said.
Thompson, who was also involved in logistics during the Thredbo landslide disaster in 1997 and travelled to Japan to help after the 2011 tsunami, said the rescue was among the most memorable during his 30-year career.
