Congratulations to Senior Constable Adrian Oldham, who has been voted Person of the Year by his local daily newspaper for saving a woman from a burning house.
Adrian, of Papamoa Public Safety Team, ripped open a window and crawled through choking smoke to rescue unconscious Neta Lawrence, 77, from a fire that destroyed her home at Mount Maunganui in July.
He says he was delighted to be nominated for the title by the Bay of Plenty Times - but was so sure he wouldn’t win that he had no speech prepared for the presentation ceremony.
“I was honoured to be nominated but when I saw the other nominees and read about what they had done I thought ‘These guys have been contributing to the community for years’," he says. "I saved a life, which is great, but it was a one-off.”
He says the win was humbling, and his lack of preparation a bit embarrassing, but he managed to say a few words.
Adrian has been in Police for 35 years. “I love dealing with the public. I just want to work the street. I seem to have a rapport with people - the good and the bad,” he says.
"This kind of selfless act by Adrian makes me proud to be a police officer,” says Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor.
“Adrian was alone and didn’t hesitate. He broke his way into the smoke-filled house, found Mrs Lawrence and pulled her to safety. As people have said, if he had waited for other backup to arrive she wouldn't be here today. An great act of bravery."
Also among the nominees was Senior Constable Lindsay ‘Red’ Smith, of Mount Maunganui, who gives up his own time to take retired men on monthly ‘blokes’ days out’.
The win maintains a run of success for Police - last year's winner was Constable Deane O'Connor, who jumped off Maungatapu Bridge to save a man from Tauranga Harbour.
Announcing Adrian as the winner, the Times editorial declared: “Adrian is a credit to himself, his family and the New Zealand Police. We are fortunate to have him in our community.”