Father's sacrifice to save his son a daily memory

Felisiano's wife, Elifapeta, say the heroic actions of the father of six were no surprise to the family because that was the sort of man he was. Photo / Supplied

Dad's selfless act puts him among five being honoured

Felisiano Puleanga sacrificed his life for his son, and his family remember it when they visit his grave each day.

The 37-year-old father of six was standing on the water's edge at South Auckland's Glenbrook Beach watching his 9-year-old son Tino and niece Heleina, 10, when the children were caught in the strong current and dragged out to sea.

Today, he is one of five Aucklanders to be honoured for bravery by the Royal Humane Society in an an extension of the New Zealand honours system which acknowledges those who put their own lives at risk to save, or try to save, the lives of others.

Mr Puleanga's family will receive the award on his behalf and two others who helped in the rescue will also be recognised.

Mr Puleanga managed to reach Heleina and handed her to a bystander, Bradley Wright, who helped her to shore.

But Tino had been swept even further from the shore and was slipping under the water. He later said: "It pushed me away to the deep."

Mr Puleanga held Tino up out of the water so he could breathe, until Mr Wright was able to get him to shore.

"He held me up in the air," Tino said.

Once Tino was safe on the beach Mr Wright tried to tow Mr Puleanga back but he was a dead weight.

By then Nicolas Cheiban, another bystander, had joined the rescue and helped get Mr Puleanga to shore where they tried in vain to revive him.

For their efforts, Mr Wright receives a bronze medal and Mr Cheiban a letter of commendation.

Yesterday, Mr Puleanga's wife, Elifapeta, 32, said Tino didn't like to talk about the incident.

"He doesn't want to talk about it because when he starts to talk he starts crying and he doesn't want people to hear what happened."

Tino still felt sad that his father died saving his life.

"He's very proud of his dad."

Mrs Puleanga will be joined at today's ceremony by her six children, who range in age from 1 to 13, and her husband's family.

His death and the rescue "will never be gone from me", she said, but his actions were no surprise because that was the sort of man he was.

It had been hard without him but support from her family and regular trips to visit his grave had helped.

Mr Puleanga is buried in Manukau and his family visit him every day after school. "And at the weekend we go at lunchtime. We sit and talk and do a prayer and have kai."

Tino will remember his father as someone who always tried to fix something and would never give up, loved his rugby and a good pork meal.

Mayor Len Brown said each of the "ordinary" people had put others' lives before their own.

"Their compelling actions demonstrate the spirit of service shown daily toward our fellow humans."