Ryan Hill and Mark Lush with their awards.
Camera IconRyan Hill and Mark Lush with their awards. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Two Royal Lifesaving bravery awards recognise local heroes

Jill BurgessMandurah Coastal Times

OUTSTANDING acts of bravery were again recognised at the 2018 Royal Life Saving Bravery Awards in Perth today when 45 heroes were honoured.

Among them were Mandurah man Ryan Hill and Bunbury forester Mark Lush.

Mr Hill jumped into the Peel-Harvey estuary last Christmas to rescue one of two infants among 13 adults and children aboard a pontoon who were thrown into the water when it capsized.

Mr Lush rescued Mandurah couple Debra and Kevin O’Meara who were hiking the Bibbulmun track when they became trapped in a strong current at a river crossing and in danger of being swept away.

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The couple had been in the water for about an hour when Mr Lush appeared on the other side of the river where he had been checking water levels and realised he could probably reach them.

“I had no choice but to try,’’ he said at the time.

Royal Lifesaving Society WA chief executive Peter Leaversuch said each award recipient had displayed exceptional courage, empathy and initiative by applying lifesaving skills in emergency situations and sometimes at risk to themselves.