90 Western Australians were honoured at this year’s Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Awards ceremony for their outstanding acts of lifesaving during 26 emergency situations across the state.

Families, friends, colleagues and community members gathered to acknowledge the outstanding courage of their actions at the State Reception Centre in Kings Park on Friday 17 October.

The event was attended by His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia and his wife Mrs Darrilyn Dawson, who are joint patrons of Royal Life Saving WA, along with Royal Life Saving WA’s President Vaughan Davies, Board Members and Life Members.

Many Bravery Award recipients are everyday community members. Others are professionals who stepped up while on duty. Each story shows the value of first aid knowledge, rapid action and teamwork.

Royal Life Saving WA CEO Peter Leaversuch commended their actions.

"These individuals set an outstanding example for all Western Australians. Their actions remind us that emergencies can happen anywhere: at home, at work, or during recreation. Some incidents occurred in the city, while others took place in remote areas where help is harder to reach. Each story shows that an emergency can happen to anyone, at any time and any place."

This year's award recipients included:

• Timothy Lloyd, Brandon Migro, and Krystal McKnight (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Patrick Rooney, James Garcia, and Brooke Tkachenko (Gold Star Bravery Award):
  During a PE lesson, a Year 10 student suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. The group of teachers acted immediately, performing CPR, calling 000, and using a defibrillator to deliver two shocks. Their calm and coordinated response saved the student’s life, who has since made a full recovery.

• Connor Wood (Gold Medallion Bravery Award):
  When his grandfather went into cardiac arrest at home, 14-year-old Connor called for help and began CPR on his own. He continued until paramedics arrived, successfully reviving his grandfather.

• Courtney June Kim (Gold Star Bravery Award):
  While spending time with her family at Hardy Inlet in Augusta, Courtney noticed an elderly woman being swept away by strong currents. Acting quickly, she paddled out on her board, rescued the exhausted woman, and brought her safely back to shore navigating difficult conditions.

• Roald Bosman and Shayne Williams (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Rianne Bosman (Gold Star Bravery Award):
  When Devon collapsed outside his home, his son Shayne quickly rushed to assist and began CPR while neighbours Rianne and her son Roald joined to help. Rianne drove to retrieve a defibrillator, and the group delivered CPR for nearly 30 minutes before paramedics arrived.

• Ian Goldthorpe (Gold Star Bravery Award):
  While supervising VacSwim at Cottesloe Beach, Ian noticed a swimmer caught in a rip. Ensuring his students were safe, he entered the water with a rescue tube and supported the man until lifeguards arrived, preventing a potential drowning.

• Madoc Lanfear-Appleby (Gold Medallion Bravery Award):
  Noticing two girls thrown from a jet ski 500 metres offshore at Coogee Beach, Water Safety Officer Madoc paddled out on a rescue board and brought them safely to shore, his decisive action avoiding serious incident or injury.

• Hannah Neilings (Gold Medallion Bravery Award) and Thinley Dorji (Gold Star Bravery Award):
  After being alerted to an unconscious man in the water at Serpentine National Park, Ranger Hannah radioed for help while Thinley pulled him to shore. Together they performed CPR until he regained consciousness and supported his family until paramedics arrived.

• Andrea Hallam, Chrissie Bird, Jack Dawson, and Bree Bloch (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Sally Sibley, Robyn Saxon, Julie Winch, and Karen Andrews (Bravery Commendation):
  When a man collapsed outside Joondalup Library, staff and community members rapidly coordinated CPR, defibrillator use, and crowd control until paramedics arrived. Despite the tragic outcome, their professionalism ensured the best possible response.

• Chris van den Broeke (Gold Medallion Bravery Award) and Jennie Murray (Bravery Commendation):
  During a team event in Perth’s CBD, Chris and Jennie rushed to help a man who had collapsed. Chris performed CPR while Jennie relayed instructions to 000, helping the man regain consciousness.

• David Vance (Gold Medallion Bravery Award) and Tara Cockman (Bravery Commendation):
  After noticing an unconscious man at Burns Beach Café, former-paramedic David began CPR while local cafe manager Tara called 000 and retrieved a defibrillator. Their quick response revived the man before paramedics arrived.

• Jason Morgan and Richelle Finselbach (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Matt Smith, Thang Nguyen, Emma Guest, and Aida Hodzic (Bravery Commendation):
  When a man suddenly collapsed while exercising, staff and patrons at Stirling Leisure Inglewood Gym worked together to perform CPR, use a defibrillator, and provide oxygen. Their coordinated response saved his life, and he has since made a full recovery.

• Tate Campbell and Alicia Ng (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Tara O’Brien and Erin Thomas (Gold Star Bravery Award), Tarni Corkran, Sharon Bryce, Pam Vincent, and Annabell Macey (Bravery Commendation):
  Ten-year-old Annabell raised the alarm when she saw a young boy sink beneath the water at Leisure World Gosnells. Staff responded immediately, rescuing the child, performing CPR and defibrillation, and reviving him after nearly three minutes underwater.

• Ofer Lefelman, Jayden Peirce, and Cameron Menzies (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), James Rayworth, Rupert Bede, and Catherine Errington (Gold Star Bravery Award):
  At Stirling Leisure Inglewood Pool, fellow pool patron Ofer noticed a man appear to suffer a seizure and begin sinking in the water. After being notified by an AI-driven drowning detection system, lifeguards Cameron and Jayden quickly entered the pool to assist with the rescue. Thanks to coordinated efforts of all staff, the man regained consciousness and fully recovered.

• Kim McMinn, Preston Hodge, and Duncan Carse Sanchez (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Chris Martin, Shania Frivet, and Lara Burford (Bravery Commendation):
  At Aqualife Centre, Victoria Park, staff performed CPR and provided oxygen to a woman who became unwell after swimming. Evacuating the pool and managing bystanders, the team’s organised response while waiting for an ambulance to arrive was calm and coordinated.

• Nick Fuller and Ryan Pennachio (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Luke Waldron (Gold Star Bravery Award), and Lauren Yardley (Bravery Commendation):
  At Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, staff responded to an unresponsive patron found in her car. They performed CPR and defibrillation until paramedics arrived, showing professionalism under pressure.

• Ashton Cridge, Tahlia Cappeluti, and Caity Smith (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Melissa Ellis and Ethan Hunter (Bravery Commendation):
  When a four-year-old boy began to struggle in the water at Cannington Leisureplex, lifeguard Ashton quickly responded and commenced CPR as other staff assisted with administering oxygen and began to clear the pools. The child made a full recovery.

• Alex Lebron (Gold Medallion Bravery Award):
  At Riverton Leisureplex, Duty Officer Alex rescued a four-year-old found face down in the whirlpool. He began CPR, coordinated assistance by radio, and revived the child, who was discharged by the hospital the next day.

• Josephine Lukasik and Rebecca May (Gold Medallion Bravery Award):
  Duty Manager Rebecca and lifeguard Josie responded to reports from a young relative and rescued an unconscious 16-year-old from the water at Belmont Oasis. Rebecca commenced CPR while Josie provided support with oxygen and a defibrillator until the teen regained consciousness and paramedics arrived.

• Constable Amy Bakker and Jarrad Mohr (Gold Medallion Bravery Award):
  When a woman collapsed from heart failure outside the IGA store in Jurien Bay, visiting Perth local immediately began CPR with the use of a defibrillator. Passing Constable Amy Bakker quickly joined the efforts and the two provided lifesaving care until the woman regained signs of life.

• Constables Jeremy Baigent, Harvey Wiggett, and Lewis White (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Constable Samantha Holt (Bravery Commendation):
  A team of police officers responded to a medical emergency in Fremantle when a distressed woman claimed her father had collapsed at their nearby residence. The officers performed CPR using a defibrillator from a local business, and supported the family until an ambulance arrived.

• Sergeant Kyle Wade, Senior Constable Kelly Robinson, Constable Ben Pears, Constable Jodi Froude, Senior Constable Damien Heseltine, and Nurse Emma Fowler (Gold Medallion Bravery Award): 
  Police officers were assisted by off-duty Senior Constable Damien Heseltine and nurse Emma Fowler following reports of a man found slumped over his truck steering wheel. Backup quickly arrived with a defibrillator, and the team continued their lifesaving efforts, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and dedication.

• Senior Constable Michael Smith and Thomas Ellis Bolas (Gold Cross Bravery Award):
  Following a woman’s fall into the flooded Blackwood River in Bridgetown, Senior Constable Michael Smith and local resident Thomas Ellis Bolas entered the cold, fast-moving water to bring her safely to shore. Working together they brought her safely to shore and remained with her until paramedics arrived.

• First Class Constable Shannae Aitchison (Gold Medallion Bravery Award) and Constable Connor Wood (Gold Star Bravery Award):
  First Class Constable Shannae Aitchison performed lifesaving CPR on a 10-year-old boy found unresponsive after a crash on Mundijong Road in Baldivis, restoring his breathing within minutes. Constable Connor Wood coordinated emergency services and managed the scene, ensuring a calm and effective response under pressure.

• Constables Peter Reith, David Duncan, Ryan Priest, First Class Constable Andrew Laundy, and Sergeant Tyler Winter (Gold Medallion Bravery Award):
  Responding to a cardiac emergency in 2022, police officers took over CPR from an elderly man’s distressed family, successfully restoring his breathing in a challenging situation.

• First Class Constable Peter Reith (Gold Cross Bravery Award):
  Following reports of a man with a suspected spinal injury at Scarborough Beach, First Class Constable Peter Reith quickly responded. Battling rough surf and incoming waves, he entered the water and kept the man’s airway clear and body stable until paramedics arrived, preventing further injury or drowning.

• Dylan Brown, Ella Arbel, and Charlotte O’Brien (Bravery Commendation):
  Staff members responded quickly when a swimmer suffered a medical emergency during a Women’s Swimming session in Margaret River. Their calm teamwork ensured the woman received immediate care and comfort until emergency services arrived.

• Cosi (Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth Russell Medal):
  Cosi is the recipient of the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth’s Russell Medal, the highest honour for lifesaving bravery awarded to a person under 21 across the Commonwealth. She is only the fifth Australian to receive this prestigious award, recognised for her exceptional courage and determination in performing an attempted resuscitation while kayaking off Dawesville.