Lucy Knight with her husband, Peter Thomas, and her daughter Phoebe. File photo / Michael Craig
Lucy Knight was among members of the public recognised for acts of bravery at police awards today.
Two police officers and a member of the public were also recognised for their actions earlier this year when they pulled a woman from a car before it sank in to the sea.
Ms Knight intervened in a violent attack and suffered a serious brain injury for her actions.
She was recognised with a Certificate of Appreciation from Commissioner Mike Bush today at the North Shore Area Awards.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Murdoch said the award recognised Ms Knight's "selfless bravery in going to the aid of a stranger being attacked."
Ms Knight "paid a huge price for her actions," Mr Murdoch said.
She went to the aid of a woman whose handbag was being snatched from her on September 25 last year outside a Birkenhead supermarket.
Hendrix Hauwai, 17, was sentenced to four years in prison for punching Ms Knight in the back of the head, leaving her with a fractured skull and she suffered a brain bleed and spent more than a month in hospital recovering from the injury.
Ms Knight spoke to media after the ceremony and said she hadn't expected to be recognised at the ceremony.
The crowd of supporters, including Ms Knight's family, and members of the police gave Ms Knight a standing ovation as she returned to her seat with her award.
"The whole experience has been quite unreal," she said.
She said she was almost moved to tears to be recognised on stage in front of so many people.
Her family attended the ceremony with her.
"It was really special for them too, especially the two little ones who were there [at the time of the attack]."
She said while the experience had been "really difficult" it had shown her kindness from strangers.
"It's been lovely to experience how kind people have been and just the response from people."
Ms Knight said seven months on from the incident her recovery was going "really well".
She had been given her driver's licence back and her life was "almost back to normality."
Alongside Ms Knight, two police officers and a member of the public who went to the aid of a woman trapped in a sinking vehicle at the Northcote wharf were also recognised for their bravery.
Constable Simon Russell, Constable Paul Watts and Erwin Kampos received commendations from the District Commander for their bravery when they rescued the woman from the car moments before it sank on February 17.
Mr Murdoch described the incident as "highly challenging and stressful".
"The bravery, quick-thinking and professionalism of [the two officers] ... was in the highest traditions of the New Zealand police."
Mr Watts told media after the ceremony that the pair didn't know what they would find when they arrived at the scene.
"We had to quickly decide what we were going to do ... Because we didn't have much time," he said.
"We were glad we got her out and she was fine ... It took everybody's part to save the lady."
The two officers have since visited the woman at her home on her request.
"We don't normally do that, but in this instance we thought it would be nice to go round and meet her.
"She was very grateful, she is a lucky lady."
Mr Russell said the commendation came as a surprise for the two of them.
"For us, being so long in the police, we're in a lot of situations helping people and we don't expect anything," he said.
Two members of the public were also recognised for rushing to the aid of an elderly woman who lost control of her car and plunged into a stream in Albany on December 11.
Chris Bayne and Sam Garlick happened to be passing the scene of the crash scrambled down a bank in Albany to reach the car and keep the woman's head out of the water until emergency services arrived.
Several other police officers were recognised for long service in the force, bravery, and given commendations for outstanding work.