"We were watching this old fellow standing there and the next minute he just fell in," he said.
Ryan and Pia went to his aid.
"He was screaming out for help," he said.
Other younger children were milling around but were unable to help Mr Rolfe.
Ryan said it was not easy to pull the stuck man out.
"I jumped down and hauled him out. First I tried to pull him out by his hand but he was stuck, so I put my arms under his arms and still couldn't get him out. I just pulled real hard and got him on to my shoulder and pushed him up the bank," he said.
He admitted he got into a bit of trouble from time to time, fighting with other youths. But Ryan said he would jump to help any older person needing help.
"We need to be there for our old people. They have paved the way for us," he said.
Mr Rolfe's wife Nancy said she was proud of the youngsters. She believed they deserved to be rewarded for helping her husband, who had only been out of hospital for two days after suffering a stroke when he fell into the stream.
"They deserve something like a whole day out at Rotorua's attractions because these kids were prepared to help and not harm, which is great. They need to be rewarded," she said.
Mr Rolfe is currently unwell but wanted to thank the youths.
