On March 17, 2016, Sam and Kelly were walking along the beach when they observed a distressed man in the water waving his arms.

The beach was un-patrolled and there were only a few people a distance away.

Sam, a firefighter of 10 years with Fire and Rescue NSW, called on his emergency services training to help him assist the man. 

He immediately jumped into the water to help, swimming out to the stricken tourist.

The man had been caught in a rip and did not have the strength anymore to fight it. 

Three days of poor weather had left the beach incredibly rough with numerous rips and pounding waves.

On reaching him, Sam held the man up and calmed him down, telling him they would get to the safety.

While Sam was in the water with the man, Kelly spoke to a runner on the sand.

Kelly and the runner saw Sam and the English man go under the water and did not see them come back up. 

Panicked, they both entered the water fully clothed and ended up caught in the rip themselves. 

By this stage, Sam had managed to get himself and the tourist to a sandbank where they could stand. 

Sam then re-entered the deeper water to get to Kelly taking her to the same sandbank and then the runner. 

Together, Sam, Kelly and the runner got the English tourist, who they later found out was John Glover from Manchester, to the shore. 

A bystander had contacted 000 and a short time later Ambulance and Police arrived.

The man was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital and spent a few days in hospital with water on his lungs, but made a full recovery. 

For his bravery, Sam received a ‘Commendation for Courageous Action’ from Fire and Rescue NSW; the second highest honour given by the organisation.

The award was presented to Sam at Junee Shire Council in June this year. 

Sam also received a ‘High Commendation’ from the New South Wales branch of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia at Government House in May this year. 

Sam was born and raised in Cootamundra before moving to Junee with Kelly three years ago.