An incredible effort saw two profoundly deaf women rescued from their car trapped in fast-rising flood waters – but the help didn’t stop there.
Constable Courtney Robertson came across the pair as he and other staff from across Taupō and Tokoroa responded to job after job of vehicles stuck in flooding on State Highway One.
Spotting the Mazda Demio “floating” in the water in the opposite lane, separated by a wire safety rope, Courtney wound down his window and attempted to yell across at the occupants – but didn’t get any real response.
So, he travelled a short distance down the road, spun around and pulled up short of the trapped vehicle. Wading into water up to his thighs, he soon discovered the reason.
Both women were profoundly deaf. One was on a video call to her daughter, who explained their impairments, and that one had recently had a knee replacement.
The women had been on their way to Hawke's Bay from Auckland when Courteney noticed they were having difficulties. The passenger side of the car had water up to the windowsill and rising, but the woman was too terrified to get out of the vehicle.
“She was pretty traumatised by the whole situation, so I picked her up like a baby and managed to pass her over to Sergeant Symon Marama-Lyon who was on the other side of the road.”
With the help of a “young fella, Ricky” who had offered to assist, the pair was able to get the second woman out of the car – again carrying her to the safety of a waiting police vehicle.
Courtney says the water was still rising quickly with strong currents down the roadside as they got the two women out of the vehicle.
“If you were sitting in the car, it would have been mid-chest high. The passenger side of the road was pretty deep with a real current.”
Once the pair was safe, Courtney and Ricky were able to get the women’s car out of the water. But the helping didn’t stop there.
Concerned about shock setting in, especially with one of the women, Courtney took the pair to Taupō Hospital for medical treatment and when they were released, put them up in his mother’s house as she was away for the night.
“I just think about if it was my mum or my nana. It was really late at night and at least there they had beds and a dryer- all their suitcases were soaked.”
The next morning, while off duty, he was back round to check on the women, before cleaning and attempting to get the water out of their sodden vehicle that fellow Police had managed to drive back to Taupō.
“It was a good shift. That’s why we do the job right, to help people.”
Kelly, the daughter of one of the two rescued, describes Courtney as a “humble hero”.
She says receiving the Facetime from her mother, frantically signing what had happened, while she was helpless in Auckland was a scary moment.
“I just couldn’t believe it. Mum said she was in big trouble. I was trying to keep them both calm, neither of them were calm.”
The relief when she saw Courtney arrive “in red and blue flashing lights” was incredible. And the level of support afterwards – out of the ordinary, Kelly says.
“I feel like what he did isn’t the norm. These were two vulnerable ladies. He’s part of the family now.”
Taupō Area Commander, Inspector Phil Edwards says Courtney’s actions are a great example of what “good policing” looks like in the area – and the sort of policing our community should be proud of.
“He saw two vulnerable women in real danger, he didn’t hesitate, but he just got in there and did what needed to be done.
“What stands out to me is not just the rescue itself, but the care he showed afterwards. Making sure they were checked at hospital, had somewhere warm and safe to stay, and even following up the next morning.
"As a colleague, I’m proud of Courtney, and of the teamwork shown by Symon and the member of the public who helped out. This is exactly the sort of policing our community can be proud of."