TWO Dandenong police officers have been applauded for their bravery with bronze medals from the Royal Humane Society of Australasia.
Senior Constables Courtney Guerin and Paul Gerald Giampiccolo were among 35 bravery award recipients at a ceremony at Government House on 14 December.
The honour recognised their efforts in rescuing two divers being crushed against rocks at St Paul’s Beach, Sorrento, on 26 January last year.
“To receive this medal was a great honour and makes me very proud to be a member of the Victoria Police force and of the community,” Sen Const Guerin said.
“At the time of the incident I could only think of the safety of the divers in the water and making sure they were safe.”
“Since that event it has made me appreciate how quickly a situation can turn dangerous and life threatening.”
At 11.15am Senior Constables Giampiccolo and Guerin and a paramedic, Ms Armstrong, received a call that there were divers in difficulty.
They arrived to find one out of the water holding onto another, who was being pushed against the rocks by waves and bleeding from cuts to his face.
Sen Consts Giampiccolo and Guerin and Ms Armstrong dragged the diver from the water and immediately returned to the water’s edge to find a third diver holding onto his water tank for buoyancy.
Waves brought him closer to shore but pushed him against the rocks. Ms Armstrong knelt down on the rock edge and reached out to grab the man, waves splashing over her head.
Sen Const Guerin had concerns for Ms Armstrong’s safety and knelt on the rocks at the water’s edge, and with her arm outstretched he held onto her.
A large wave crashed against the rocks, pushing the diver towards his rescuers, and they dragged him from the water.
