Brook Sabin thought his little brother Darryl wasn't going to live when he received catastrophic head injuries during a rugby game.
Darryl suffered a life-threatening head injury during a rugby match at Te Hapua, on Anzac Day last year.
But he moved his thumb just hours before life support was to be
turned off.
Since then Darryl's recovery has been nothing short of a miracle and, as a journalist for TV3, Brook shared his brother's inspirational story from near-death to recovery.
On Saturday Brook got to watch Darryl walk the red carpet when his story, shown on Campbell Live, won in the best current affairs reporting for a daily programme category at the Qantas Film and TV Awards.
Brook said it was an emotional night but one that made him immensely proud of his brother and his family.
"He's come so far from only being able to move his thumb to walking the red carpet," Brook said.
"When we were told he wouldn't survive I was thinking what I was going to say at his funeral. When I got the award I had to think about what I was going to say about Darryl, because he survived."
He said Darryl was an instant success with all the women from TV3 at the awards night.
Brook, a former Taipa Area School student, began his career in broadcasting journalism with Doubtless Bay Community Radio before working on Sunrise and then joining TV3's news team.
"Darryl was the main character in this piece. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have got the award."
Proud father Mike Sabin, along with his brother and his parents, attended the glitzy Auckland event at the Civic Theatre and said it was a very special night.
"Brook's story on Darryl's recovery is another chapter to a remarkable journey," he said.
"I'm a very proud dad, and it was an amazing night to celebrate both their achievements."
Even Darryl admits he was moved by the occasion.
"It was amazing. I cried, just quietly," Darryl said. "It means a huge amount to me for Brook to win. He was so deserving of it."
As Darryl's remarkable recovery continues he has his sights set on competing in the Kerikeri half marathon in November. The plan is to run stages and be pushed for short distances in a modified wheelchair.
