Sixteen years ago, a heroic group of men performed an act of bravery in Castle Hill that has finally been acknowledged.
Recently, 83 Australian Bravery Awards were announced by David Hurley, Governor-General, and these awards included two paramedics from Ambulance NSW and five officers from The NSW Fire and Rescue department.
Firefighters Deryck Salfus, Christopher Humphreys, Anthony Waller, Brad Turner and Anthony Northbrook-Hine joined ambulance officers Terrence Sadowsy and Warren Bostock at a building site in Castle Hill on October 29, 2004 after a construction worker was trapped in a trench when the wall he was building collapsed on him.
The delicate rescue operation took over two hours as the rescuers took turns to enter the trench to assess the victim and to devise the best possible extraction plan, all the while working with the possibility of the wall further collapsing. The victim was finally removed in a vertical sling and transported to hospital.
Turner admitted that he felt humbled and shocked to be recognised all these years later, as risking his life is part of his job. He did however acknowledge that they were fortunate that everything went according to plan that day. His colleague, Salfus, agrees that when they achieve a positive outcome with minimal injury to the victim, it is a moment to celebrate.
City Councils utilise graphic design to notify residents of essential services within their shire. These awards come at a time where essential workers and the risks they take on a daily basis are being appreciated globally by communities.
