A Merewether man who saved a surfer who was being attacked by a great white shark north of Newcastle has been formally recognised for his bravery.
Governor-General David Hurley announced on Tuesday night that Billy Eitz was one of 15 Bravery Medal recipients as part of the latest round of Australian Bravery Awards.
Mr Eitz was among a group of surfers riding waves at Bulls Paddock, at Booti Booti Point, on the morning of December 1, 2016, when the group was surrounded by a pod of dolphins.
One of the surfers was launched into the air as a four-metre-long great white shark attacked.
Mr Eitz paddled towards the man - 62-year-old retired real estate agent Colin Rowland - who was clinging to broken pieces of his surfboard and had been significantly injured on the foot and arm.
Mr Eitz pulled Mr Rowland onto his board, not knowing where the marine predator had gone, and paddled the pair to shore where he administered first aid until emergency crews arrived at the scene.
The Merewether man was the only Hunter resident among the 15 people being recognised as part of the national awards.
Aside from the 15 Bravery Medals, there were also three Group Bravery Citations, six Commendations for Brave Conduct, one Bar to the Bravery Medal and one Star of Courage awarded.
The Governor-General described the deeds of those recognised as "inspirational".
"The people receiving awards didn't wake up in the morning and decide that they would be brave - each was faced with an unexpected situation and made a conscious choice, in the moment, to turn towards the danger and help others," he said.
IN THE NEWS:
- NewRun 2020: H Events confirms Hill 2 Harbour and other races won't go ahead amid coronavirus
- Newcastle East Public School asked to confirm policy on travel to Sydney during COVID
- Three new cases of COVID-19 confirmed overnight
- The impact of COVID is being felt in Hunter medical research with many trials stopped or slowing down
