Mount Maunganui teacher Danielle Shepherd's life-saving efforts have been recognised with two highly prized Surf Life Saving Excellence Awards.
The 2014 Surf Life Saving Bay of Plenty Coromandel Awards of Excellence were held at Trinity Wharf on Saturday night, honouring those who patrol from Hot Water Beach to Opotiki.
Ms Shepherd, 30, a Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service member for six years, five as patrol captain, won the Bay of Plenty Patrol Captain of the Year, and Pacific Medicare Bay of Plenty Lifeguard of the Year awards. She said: "It's pretty amazing and special and definitely very humbling ... "
She hailed her club colleagues, including Gary King, who won the Bay instructor and examiner of the year awards.
Ms Shepherd, who teaches at Mount Maunganui College, used to be a member of the Muriwai club, joining as a 7-year-old.