Police officer strips off to save young Otago sailor

Saturday, 2 April 2016

Rhys Davidson is glad he put on a good pair of sports underwear before heading to work.

The 40-year-old police constable stripped off his clothes and braved the cold, choppy waters of Otago Harbour to help a teenager whose yacht had capsized about 9.30am on Saturday.

His selfless actions have been commended by members of the public who watched the rescue unfold from Portobello Rd, on the southern side of the harbour.

Davidson, who was back on the beat after a hot shower and a cup of coffee, just says he was doing his job.

Thomas George, 16, was sailing to help out at his father's sailing course at the Vauxhall Yacht Club when his boat capsized at The Gums about 100 metres from shore.

He was unable to right the yacht because its mast got stuck on the bottom in about 5 metres of water.

A member of the public saw the teenager was in trouble and called police.

Davidson and another officer were the first police to arrive at the scene. Another unit went to the yacht club to organise a motorised boat to help with the rescue.

'I hopped out and had a quick look and the weather wasn't favourable - it was pretty choppy and it had taken us however long to get there.

'I decided to swim out. If there was only one person [at the yacht] and they go under while everyone is standing on the shore there's a potential tragedy.'

Davidson, who described himself as a competent swimmer, stripped off his uniform and dived into the harbour. The teenager was clinging to the hull when he reached the yacht.

Another member of the public, a surfer who was driving past, donned a wetsuit and also swam out to help.

'The teen confirmed he was OK and there was no one else with him.  I apologised for not bringing my notebook and pen out to him - I had no where to put it,' Davidson said.

'We just all hung on to the boat. We were getting pitched around a little bit, but we were safe enough … waiting for the motorised rescue.'

Davidson estimated he was in the water for about 15 minutes before help arrived. Thomas was starting to cramp when he was pulled from the water by his father Neil George who was in the rescue boat.

He was taken to Dunedin Hospital where he underwent treatment for mild hypothermia.

Davidson said the teenager appeared to have done everything right. He was wearing a lifejacket and a wetsuit.

'He said the conditions changed quite rapidly after he got out on the water. He was as well prepared as you can be, it's just the conditions weren't in his favour.'

Davidson dismissed any suggestion of heroism.

'I just happened to be the first one there. There are plenty of other officers who would do the same thing without thinking.

'I did have my good undies on and I'm thankful for that.'

Neil George praised Davidson's actions as 'absolutely commendable'.

He described his son's capsizing of the yacht as possibly a 'wee bit of a teenage brain fart'.

'Sometimes he forgets what to do next and I think that's what might have happened.'

Otago Coastal area commander Inspector Jason Guthrie said Davidson's 'selfless and courageous' actions were 'the kind of conduct that makes you proud to be a police officer'.

'It could have been a very different story had he not acted when he did, and we could just as easily have been dealing with a tragedy,' Guthrie said.

'What Rhys has done today epitomises what we're all about. He's done a really good job.'  

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