12-year-old Shane Tipungwutit wins national Pride of Australia award for saving drowning family friend

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy who resuscitated a three-year-old family friend who almost drowned in a waterhole is the national winner of the Pride of Australia Awards.

Pride of Australia Outstanding Bravery medal winner Shane Tipungwuti. Shane is the overall national winner of Pride of Australia to be announced in Sydney on Thursday.

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy who resuscitated a three-year-old family friend who fell into a waterhole in a remote Territory community has been named a national winner at the Pride of Australia Awards.

Shane Tipungwutit, who was the NT’s Pride of Australia Outstanding Bravery medal winner, flew to Sydney with his great aunty Stephanie Dhurrkay and great-uncle James Tipungwutit for last night’s awards ceremony.

He was 11 when the near drowning happened and said he had learnt how to perform CPR from television.

The near-tragedy occurred on Milingimbi, about 400km east of Darwin, just off the coast of Arnhem Land.

Three-year-old Lucas Dhurrkay had fallen into ­Macasson’s Well, which is about 300m from the local school, after he had wandered away from his home. The small waterhole is a popular swimming spot for local children.

Shane said he and friends had gone to the waterhole for a swim after school when one of the younger boys said they had seen Lucas fall into the water. It is not known how long Lucas was underwater but he was unconscious and not breathing when pulled out by Shane.

“His body was like jelly,” Shane said. “I jumped in and pulled him out of the water. It was really easy. I pushed his heart and water came out of his mouth and nose. I saw it on television on Channel 99.”

Lucas was taken to the ­Milingimbi Health Clinic where he was stabilised before being taken to Royal Darwin Hospital by CareFlight.

He has made full recovery.

His great-uncle James Tipungwutit had recently undertaken a similar course and had regularly shown Shane the CPR learning material.

“After it happened he said to me ‘Grandpa’ I pulled the boy out by the hair and I saved him,” Mr Tipungwutit said.

Milingimbi Health Clinic manager Mick Thomas said if Lucas had remained under water any longer he would likely have suffered a brain injury. Lucas’ father Arnold Mininqwuy said Shane was a “hero”. “Shane helped my little boy,” he said. “He is a hero.”

Shane said he did not feel like a hero but had been excited about going to the awards.

Another NT resident, Julie Turner, was a national finalist for the Courage Medal.