Two men who saved a man from a burning car shortly before it exploded were described as "part of our family" by a grateful daughter and Napier city councillor Michelle Pyke at an awards ceremony in Gisborne.
Will Te Kira and Brett Papworth came to the assistance of Charlie Pyke after his vehicle went down a bank on State Highway 2 in the Whareratas on November 13, 2013.
Mr Te Kira, a passing motorist who did not witness the accident, noticed smoke and stopped to check. He originally thought the incident was thermal-related.
"You just do it, that is what it was about," he said at the awards ceremony.
Mr Papworth, driving behind Mr Te Kira, said he helped to get Mr Pyke out of the vehicle.