Victoria’s brave dozen awarded at government house

Twelve courageous Victorians have been awarded medals of bravery for attempting to save the lives of others in dangerous situations.

Twelve courageous Victorians have been awarded medals of bravery for attempting to save the lives of others in dangerous situations.

Among the winners were people who risked their lives to save people from rough waters, burning houses and dangerous criminals.

The Royal Humane Society of Australasia’s annual bravery ceremony was held at Government House on Thursday with awards presented by Victorian Govenor Linda Dessau.

One of eight Bronze Medal recipients, Benjamin Dennis, rescued a fisherman who had fallen off Newhaven Jetty in Phillip Island about 7pm on December 11, 2016.

NO ONE ELSE WAS JUMPING IN, I KNEW I HAD TO

DIVER RECOGNISED FOR SAVING FRIEND IN NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

RECIPIENTS RECOGNISED FOR OUTSTANDING, SELFLESS WORK

Benjamin Dennis rescued a fisherman by swimming out to him on a drinks cooler. Picture: Ian Currie

The fisherman, Ilija Pivac, was beginning to lose consciousness when Mr Dennis jumped into the water and using a drinks cooler, helped keep him afloat.

Eventually a nearby boat spotted the pair, and they were pulled to safety.

Mr Pivac said Mr Dennis, owner of New Haven restaurant Saltwater, was a hero and that he considered him “like my son”.

Off-duty paramedic Jake Donovan received a Bronze Medal after he helped numerous people escape from a violent man high on drugs and suffering from hallucinations in Port Melbourne on December 7, 2014.

Mr Donovan treated the man who was affected by the drug ice at a restaurant about 9.20pm before chasing the man as he fled the area.

Jake Donovan helped people escape from a violent man high on drugs.

Mr Donovan alongside Philip Smith, followed the dangerous man into nearby homes, where he had armed himself with kitchen knives.

“I wasn’t trying to catch him, I was just trying to warn others to get out of their houses,” Mr Donovan said.

The dangerous man smashed his way into two homes, with the occupants hiding in terror.

Mr Donovan helped calmed the man, allowing him to be taken into custody as he was attempting to force his way into a child’s bedroom, where a young family had barricaded themselves.

The highest honour of the day, a Silver Medal, was given to Chris Raynor, for helping to save a little girl from a burning home.

Mr Raynor noticed the house across the road was bellowing smoke and then saw a woman who had locked herself out trying desperately to save her granddaughter.

Mr Raynor, of Frankston South, entered the burning house by kicking and forcing open the locked front door and ran up the stairs to a living room where he found the young girl unconscious on the floor.

He picked her up and carried her downstairs to fire service personnel, who were arriving outside.

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