LandSAR Wanaka chairman John Taylor received the LandSAR New Zealand Supreme Award on the group's behalf at the organisation's annual general meeting in Wellington yesterday It is the highest accolade given by the organisation.
Mr Saxton died, aged 31, on November 1 last year, when his Robinson 22 helicopter crashed into Lake Wanaka.
After a five-day search by Wanaka LandSAR volunteers and specialist divers from the Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand Police, Mr Saxton's body was located inside the cabin of his helicopter, about 200m from shore in a remote part of the lake, and at least 70m below the surface.
A simple ski pole and hook rig devised by Wanaka volunteer Brent Pihama - a former oil rig diver and the operator of Wanaka River Journeys - was secured to the Navy's underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) and, through the use of underwater cameras and remote control, was then taken under water and attached to an engine strut of Mr Saxton's helicopter.
Divers and volunteers then combined forces to haul, the chassis, hand-over-hand, up to the Minaret Barge.
The divers freed Mr Saxton's body from the cabin and took it to the barge to return him to his waiting friends and family.
More than 75 volunteers were involved in the operation, which also included intensive shoreline, aerial and water searches, in the hope Mr Saxton had survived the accident.
The award citation recognised "the commitment, professionalism, expertise and exceptional teamwork involved in achieving an inspirational outcome" to the search.
"This was a complex and difficult search over an extended period, which used up all of our resources and was a significant management challenge. For the group to gain this recognition is a huge slap on the back and a real tribute to the whole team," Mr Taylor said.
Wanaka police search and rescue co-ordinator Sgt Aaron Nicholson said he was delighted the volunteers had received the award.
The LandSAR partnership between police and volunteers was invaluable in an outdoor-oriented community like Wanaka, Sgt Nicholson said.
LandSAR Wanaka is one of the busiest search and rescue groups in New Zealand and conducts between 40 and 50 operations a year.
