Security guard Kehe Fameitau was locking up the Kiwi Esplanade council carpark in Mangere Bridge one evening late last year when he heard a faint noise coming from the boot of a car.
He heard a small cry and called police, who found a naked young woman crammed into the
small boot. She had been there since early morning and was severely dehydrated.
Had Mr Fameitau not been alert, the woman would probably have lain undiscovered until the next day - or not saved at all, police noted.
The Otahuhu father-of-five was named the national Security Association's joint Security Officer of the Year last night with another lifesaver, former SkyCity security medic Alan Wharehau.
Although the woman was later found to have put herself in the boot and was subsequently charged with making a false statement, the police say this should not diminish Mr Fameitau's quick actions.
But it was not the first time the ADT Security officer had saved someone's life. Three years ago, he rescued his neighbour's elderly mother and three children from a burning house.
As a child growing up in Tonga, Mr Fameitau - or Mo, which means "big heart" in Tongan - wanted to be a policeman. But he said his family were poor, and could not afford a good education for him. A security guard for five years now, he was modest about his achievements. "I love to help people, just to be able to help people in the community."
Joint winner Alan Wharehau was credited with saving a co-worker's life. As a medic, Mr Wharehau was used to medical emergencies on the gaming floor at SkyCity. He recognised the symptoms when a colleague complained of numbness in his left arm and shortness of breath at a staff social cricket match at Ellerslie this year.
Mr Wharehau insisted that the man be taken to Accident and Emergency. The decision saved his life.
En route, the man's condition deteriorated. Mr Wharehau called for an ambulance and tended to him before the paramedics arrived.
He had a heart attack soon after reaching Auckland City Hospital.
Last night, Mr Wharehau was chuffed to be reunited with the man he helped to save, who flew in from Australia just for the occasion.
Mr Wharehau said the best part of his job was the people. "Security is a customer services-based industry now. Gone are the days of the real rough stuff you see in the street.
"It's changed so much.
"That's why it's an attractive industry to be part of."
Alan Wharehau (left) saved a colleague's life and Kehe Fameitau alerted police to a young woman crammed into a car boot. Picture / Dean Purcell
Security guard Kehe Fameitau was locking up the Kiwi Esplanade council carpark in Mangere Bridge one evening late last year when he heard a faint noise coming from the boot of a car.
He heard a small cry and called police, who found a naked young woman crammed into the
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