A pair of Bay of Plenty teens have taken out New Zealand Surf Life Saving's top award, the Surf Rescue of the Year.
The Papamoa pair of 15 year-olds, Nathan Smith and Liam O'Toole, won the award at a ceremony in Wellington last night for their dramatic rescue of five girls at Papamoa beach in December 2007.
Smith was off duty and surfing at the time when he came across five girls in trouble. He single-handedly dragged three girls from heavy surf returning for two more, one of whom was unconscious.
O'Toole assisted on the beach with oxygen for the patients and monitored the girls until an ambulance arrived.
Surf Life Saving NZ (SLSNZ) chief executive Geoff Barry said the teenage lifeguards showed a maturity well beyond their years and their quick action saved the lives of two of the girls.
The Lifeguard of the Year award was taken out by Debbie Phillips-Morgan, of Raglan.
About 15,000 New Zealanders are members of SLSNZ. All are volunteers.