KEY POINTS:
It's been a funny old few weeks for Pete Hickmott.
Three weeks ago, he and girlfriend Amy Worling stepped into the spotlight when they helped save the life of a 15-year-old Australian surfer after he lost part of his leg in a shark attack in remote Western Australia.
The pair helped drag the teen from the water, tourniqueted his bleeding stump with an electrical cord and then drove him to the nearest town.
The media circus that ensued was something the 32-year-old shearer from Roxburgh will never forget, understand or want to experience again.
Back home yesterday, Mr Hickmott, who has been hailed as a hero, and nicknamed "Pete Irwin the shark hunter" by his Australian shearing buddies, was enjoying a day off work because of heavy rain.
He returned home from his annual three-month shearing trip to Australia on December 22 for his summer shearing season here.
Ms Worling, 26, is finishing her working holiday as a bar worker in Australia and is expected back in Roxburgh at the end of the month.
Zak Golebiowski's right leg was torn off from the knee by a great white shark as he surfed at Wharton Beach in Western Australia on December 2.
Mr Hickmott said he and Ms Worling had just arrived at the beach to do some fishing about 7.30am when they heard screams for help.
They looked over, saw a pool of blood and immediately drove to the water's edge to help Zak's brother and friend drag the semi-conscious teen from the water. With no cellphone coverage, the couple knew they had to get the teen help as quick as they could.
Ms Worling tied a hoodie sweatshirt around Zak's stump and then used an extension cord as Mr Hickmott started driving the 60km towards the nearest town, Esperance. They were met by an ambulance 10km out of the town.
"We just did what we had to, we were pretty much in the middle of nowhere and the only ones around. I kept expecting to see a helicopter coming over the hill but we were miles away from anywhere," Mr Hickmott said.
The couple had not seen the boy since he went to hospital but understood he was recovering well and had been allowed home for Christmas.
Australian police, paramedics and the teen's family have all publicly praised the couple, saying their quick thinking saved the boy's life, while Ms Worling has had a call from Zak's mother thanking the couple.
A man of few words, Mr Hickmott was proud of his girlfriend's efforts.
"She done well. I expected her to start screaming but she was as calm as. Amy thought of the extension cord. Bloody smart all right."
Their first experience at being the subject of media attention had been overwhelming.
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
