9 October 2026

WA's local heroes celebrated at 2026 Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Awards

Western Australians who put their lifesaving skills, knowledge and quick thinking into action during serious and unexpected emergencies were recognised at the 2026 Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Awards. This year, 84 recipients were honoured for their actions across 31 emergencies, from providing CPR and first aid to carrying out rescues and helping others in life-threatening situations.

Held at the State Reception Centre in Kings Park on Friday 9 October, the ceremony brought together families, friends, colleagues and community members to celebrate their actions and the difference they made when someone needed help.

Guests included His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia, and his wife, Mrs Darrilyn Dawson, joint patrons of Royal Life Saving WA, alongside President Vaughan Davies, Board Members and Life Members.

The recipients included children, community members, aquatic professionals, police and emergency services personnel. Their stories show that emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time, and having the skills and confidence to respond can make a significant difference.

Royal Life Saving WA Board President Vaughan Davies highlighted the importance of building lifesaving skills across the community.

“We want to prevent drowning and other emergencies wherever possible, but we also want people to have the knowledge and skills to respond when something does go wrong. The awards recognise the actions of individuals, but their stories also demonstrate why building lifesaving capability across our community matters.”

The Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Awards are proudly supported by BHP, Principal Community Partner.

This year’s award recipients included:

• Austin Appelbee, Joanne Appelbee, Beau Appelbee, and Grace Appelbee (Gold Cross Bravery Award):

Swept offshore in Geographe Bay, 13-year-old Austin Appelbee swam approximately four kilometres and ran another two to raise the alarm. Joanne kept Beau and Grace calm through ten hours at sea, drifting nearly 14 kilometres offshore. All four survived.

• Sysy O'Neil and Mia O'Neil (Gold Medallion Bravery Award):

5-year-old Mia rescued her two-year-old sister Giselle from the family pool and alerted their mother, Sysy, who performed CPR and cared for her until paramedics arrived. Giselle made a full recovery.

• Skyla Barrow (Bravery Commendation):

Ten-year-old Skyla recognised a friend’s severe allergic reaction at a park and ran to a nearby house for help from a trusted adult. An ambulance was called, and her friend recovered after hospital treatment.

• Finlay Lillis (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

After finding an unconscious man on the street, 16-year-old Finlay drew on his Bronze Medallion training to recognise cardiac arrest and begin CPR. He restarted CPR when the man’s condition deteriorated and continued until paramedics arrived, helping him survive.

• Mitchell Dobson and Jett Bond (Gold Star Bravery Award)

15-year-old friends Mitchell and Jett rescued an exhausted windsurfer struggling in the Swan River navigation channel. Mitchell brought him aboard his jet ski while Jett recovered the equipment, returning both safely to shore.

• Natasha Centis (Gold Star Bravery Award):

When her client began choking during a restaurant outing, support worker Natasha used her first aid training to clear the obstruction and restore her breathing. She called Triple Zero and continued providing reassurance and care until paramedics arrived.

• Sophie Wood (Gold Star Bravery Award)

On her way to TAFE, Year 11 student Sophie witnessed a collision that left a pedestrian unconscious with a head injury and suffering a seizure. She provided first aid, organised assistance from bystanders and supported the woman until paramedics arrived.

• Johan Khan (Gold Star Bravery Award)

After hearing calls for help at a food court, Johan recognised that a collapsed man was choking and quickly cleared food from his airway. He placed the man in the recovery position and continued providing care until emergency services arrived.

• Sandy Spratt (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

While holidaying in Broome, Sandy discovered his three-year-old daughter floating face down in a swimming pool. He immediately pulled her from the water and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. His daughter later made a full physical recovery.

• Mark Coppendale (Gold Medallion Bravery Award) and Kristy Coppendale (Bravery Commendation)

After a truck crashed into trees on Forrest Highway, Mark entered the damaged cab to help the unconscious driver while Kristy called Triple Zero. They maintained his airway and monitored him until emergency services arrived.

• Ryan Poolman, Justin Fergusan, Elsie Godderidge, Jed Cummuskey, and Mia Thomas (Gold Star Bravery Award)

The Rottnest Fast Ferries crew rescued four people from an overturned vessel off Pinnaroo Point. Ryan positioned the ferry, Justin and Elsie brought them aboard, and Jed and Mia managed 365 passengers before paramedics took over at Hillarys Marina.

• Tahlia Cappeluti, Bish Bhattarai, and Hunter Stone (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), and Jovana Tutulic (Gold Star Bravery Award)

Staff and community member Bish provided CPR, defibrillation and oxygen after a badminton player collapsed at Cannington Leisureplex. He began breathing independently, and they continued his care until paramedics arrived.

• Nick Collins (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Sienna Cummins, Jack Hadley, and Aleksandar Ilic (Gold Star Bravery Award), and Melissa Justins (Bravery Commendation)

Lifeguard Nick began CPR on an unconscious three-year-old who was not breathing at Cockburn ARC. Supported by the team, the child regained responsiveness and began breathing before paramedics arrived.

• Natalie Tessarin and Aarya Rai (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Jenaya Vincent, and Will Johnson (Bravery Commendation)

Natalie and Aarya used CPR and a defibrillator to resuscitate a collapsed gym member at Cockburn ARC. Jenaya and Will supported the response and maintained privacy until paramedics arrived. The man made a full recovery.

• Keely Sear, Dylan Groves, Posy O'Keefe, and Francis Curro (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Tammy Martin, Kasey Walton, and Simon Redmond (Bravery Commendations)

Francis retrieved an unconscious patron from the water at Fremantle Leisure Centre, and staff provided CPR and airway care, restoring his breathing and circulation before paramedics arrived. He made a full recovery after two days in hospital.

• Constable Michael Kent and Probationary Constable Peter Tiernan (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

Michael and Peter swam to a distressed woman clinging to a navigation buoy 200 metres off Elizabeth Quay. They kept her calm for around 30 minutes until Water Police brought all three safely ashore.

• Constable Simon Blundell (Gold Star Bravery Award)

While on traffic duties in Lake Grace, Simon used infant choking first aid to help a baby who was not breathing. He cleared the obstruction and transported the mother and baby to hospital, where the baby made a good recovery.

• Constable Peter Reith, Sergeant Tyler Winter, Constable David Duncan, First Class Constable Andrew Laundy, and Constable Ryan Priest (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

David and fellow officers took over CPR from distressed family members after an older man collapsed and stopped breathing. Working alongside paramedics, they continued resuscitation until his breathing was restored.

• First Class Constable Peter Reith (Gold Star Bravery Award) and Constable Kaylahni Klemke (Bravery Commendation)

While patrolling Busselton Foreshore, Peter and Kaylahni were alerted to a three-year-old girl who was unresponsive and choking. Peter cleared the obstruction while Kaylahni arranged urgent ambulance assistance and supported the family. The girl made a full recovery.

• First Constable Shane Agrela (Bravery Commendation) and Probationary Constable Ryan Godwin (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

Shane and Ryan moved an injured woman away from the train line at McIver Station and arranged medical help. When she had a seizure and stopped breathing, Ryan began CPR while Shane assisted.

• Senior Constable Sean Walker (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

Sean rescued a man stranded beside a vehicle swept from a bridge in Morgantown. With others helping establish safety lines, he entered the rising floodwaters using lifejackets and brought the man to safety.

• Emma O'Malley, Claire Parsons, Kye Adams, Clinton Yarran, Niel Glahn-Bertelsen, Steve Brown, Adam Payne, Dr Eleanor Junckerstorff, Dr Claire Armanasco, Kaija Antipas and Dr Jonny Forrester (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

Following a shark attack off Rottnest Island, rangers, emergency personnel and health professionals provided CPR and bleeding control aboard a vessel and at Geordie Bay Jetty. Despite approximately 70 minutes of resuscitation efforts, the man could not be saved.

• Connor Pomery (Gold Star Bravery Award)

VacSwim instructor Connor ensured his students were safely supervised before using a rescue board to rescue a distressed person at Greens Pool in Denmark. He brought them ashore into the care of ambulance personnel.

• Jamie Lamb (Gold Star Bravery Award)

When a six-year-old child drifted approximately 1.5 kilometres offshore from Peppermint Grove Beach, VacSwim instructor Jamie swam towards them in challenging conditions. A local boat rescued both before Jamie reached the child.

• Dylan Bennet (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

When a basketball player suffered cardiac arrest, 17-year-old Dylan used his recent first aid training to call Triple Zero and perform CPR until paramedics arrived. The player made a full recovery.

• Sam Forwood (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

Off-duty police officer Sam coordinated help when a referee suffered cardiac arrest at an Under 12s rugby match. He ensured the children were cared for and assisted with CPR and defibrillation, helping successfully resuscitate the referee.

• Skyla Knight (Gold Medallion Bravery Award)

After a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in Broome, Skyla called Triple Zero and provided first aid until help arrived. She also moved students away, supported the driver and helped manage traffic.

• Debbie Gillard, and Debbie Chappell (Gold Medallion Bravery Award), Niamh Chappell, and Beatrix Chappell (Gold Star)

Niamh, 10, and Beatrix, seven, sought their mother’s and off-duty aquatic officer Debbie Gillard’s help when their grandmother lost consciousness. Debbie Gillard and Debbie Chappell provided CPR until paramedics arrived. Their grandmother regained consciousness two days later.

• Cody Schuts, Cooper Chapman, Will Faithful, and Jack Frost (Gold Star Bravery Award), Timothy Meecham, Lucy Meecham, Benjamin Wishart, Jamie Vener, Justin Kopp, Mark Burns, Mitchell Hibbot, Katrina Pennell, and Ian Howell (Bravery Commendations)

After a man fell approximately 20 metres from cliffs near Quobba Station, community members and rescue personnel searched in darkness and rough seas. A Westug crew rescued him after over two hours, and the group provided first aid and arranged further care.

• Thomas Heap, and Gareth Carney (Gold Medallion Bravery Award) and Nickie Carney (Bravery Commendation)

Thomas and Gareth used a lifesaving ring to rescue a struggling swimmer at Serpentine Falls, also recognising the danger to a teenager attempting to help. Nurse Nickie provided care and reassurance once the man was safely ashore.

• Morgan Cooper (Gold Cross Bravery Award)

After a Transperth bus crash into a tree in Wanneroo, Morgan helped injured passengers to safety and assessed who needed urgent care. He performed CPR on one casualty, provided first aid to others until emergency services arrived.