Emotional reunion at bravery awards

Two women who last met in tragic circumstances three years ago have had an emotional reunion at a bravery award presentation.

Mrs Anaseini Ngauamo said she had wanted to say thank you to Donna Kitchener since January 30, 2006, for saving her son, Moteiva, from Manukau Harbour.

But she had not had the opportunity to do it in person.

She was grieving for her husband, Kafoa-mo talau Ngauamo, who drowned at Green Bay while trying to rescue Moteiva, then aged 10, who was caught in the mud, with the tide rushing in.

"I was happy to see her," said Mrs Ngauamo, who was expecting her fifth child when her husband died aged 34.

The New Lynn man's heroism was recognised last night when Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey presented the family with a posthumous award in Waitakere City - an "In Memoriam" certificate, on behalf of the Royal Humane Society. It was proudly held by Moteiva, wearing traditional Tongan ta'ovala. He attends Avondale College, where his favourite subjects are maths and science.

The city's Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Mrs Kitchener, a Titirangi mother of girls aged 4 and 6. "I was nervous about this meeting," said Mrs Kitchener. "They are a lovely-looking family."

She recalled walking her dog along the beach when she heard Mrs Ngauamo's cries for help and saw two heads in the water 100m offshore.

But by the time Mrs Kitchener sprinted down a boat ramp and swam to the spot she could see only Moteiva.

"I told him to hold on to the kickboard because my swimming ability isn't the best. Doing a sort of sidestroke, I towed him into the shallows."

Mrs Kitchener said she was exhausted and in shock and looking for her own daughter.

"The mother was calling for her husband and I saw she was pregnant and I wanted to leave her to her grief."

Mrs Kitchener said she was shy of publicity and had told only close friends and family.

She regretted not being able to search the muddy water for Mr Ngauamo, who was sucked deep into the mud. "I felt awful. But in reality I could not have saved a man."

Mrs Kitchener said she became involved in the rescue "purely by chance" because she rarely went to Green Bay.

She will receive the society's Silver Medal award at a function at Government House next week.

Also last night, Senior Sergeant Garth Stockley was presented with the society's Certificate of Merit for his part in saving two swimmers in big surf at Piha in March last year.

One of the men was unconscious and Mr Stockley gave first aid until emergency services arrived. The man later recovered in hospital.