Trio to be honoured for saving boaties

Three men will be honoured in Christchurch today for saving the lives of two boaties being swept towards a watery death.

The Governor-General will award Ike Hanson a silver medal from the Royal Humane Society. Two other men - Toby Walker and Kyle Williams - will be given Certificates of Merit.

In February last year they were surfing near the mouth of the Rakaia River, when fishermen alerted them to two men whose boat had upturned and were being swept out to sea.

Mr Hanson took his surfboard and sprinted along the shingle beach barefoot, crossing the south stream on his board with a horrendous break on the bar, then the main river in the same manner.

He then launched himself into the rough surf and paddled out to the struggling men - and with the help of the two other surfers towed them into shore on his surfboard.

The trio will be honoured at the Burnside Bowling Club in a ceremony which begins at 10am.

- NEWSTALK ZB