Whanganui Catholic teen gets bravery award for saving friend

Heike Reitsma, 19, from St Mary’s Parish in Whanganui, was presented with the award by Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro on April 29 at Government House.

In July 2022, Heike and a friend were riding their motorbikes over farmland near Whanganui, as they had done many times, but an embankment gave way, causing Heike’s friend to be pinned under his bike in a creek.

“The current was growing stronger, making it increasingly difficult for the trapped boy to keep his head above the rising water. Heike tried to pull the bike off his friend, then attempted – unsuccessfully – to remove his boots to free his legs,” read the citation.

With time running out, Heike repeatedly ran up the hilltop, trying to alert emergency services despite patchy phone coverage, then rushed back down to ensure his friend’s head remained above water and to make further attempts to free him.

The chest-deep water eventually loosened the motorbike, but swept the boy further downstream.

“I knew further down the stream was a two-metre hole,” said Heike.

Despite becoming hypothermic and weak, the boy managed to grab hold of an overhanging branch and call out to Heike, who pulled him from the water and gave him his own dry clothing in place of the soaked ones. On the brink of exhaustion, Heike then sprinted a kilometre to the main road to guide Police to the scene.

His friend was evacuated by helicopter to Palmerston North Hospital. He went on to make a full recovery.

A first responder nominated Heike for the Bravery Award, saying his actions undoubtedly saved a life. The delay between the incident and the presentation was likely due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles, as the nomination required both Royal and Prime Ministerial approval and signatures.

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Updates from Around the Diocese (By Sue Seconi/Tūmanako/Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North)