A boy's quick thinking that prevented his younger brother from becoming another holiday drowning statistic was recognised in a presentation at the Manurewa Aquatic Centre on 4 February.  

Jaylen Heaslip was all smiles as he received the Community Safekids Hero Award from Safekids New Zealand and a voucher for family swimming lessons with Swimsation Swim Schools in appreciation of his heroic deed.

The six-year-old was playing in the shallows at Clarks Beach [Manukau] early in January when he recognised that his brother Ty (3) was "not playing but drowning" and alerted their mum, not a confident swimmer, who was supervising.

He grabbed Ty, who was bobbing up and down in the water, and brought him back to shore to mum and an off-duty lifeguard who happened to be swimming nearby.

WAI thanks Safekids New Zealand and Swimsation Swim Schools for their support in recognising this young hero.

Click on the following links for further information on Safekids New Zealand and Swimsation Swim Schools.

Ann Weaver, Director of Safekids New Zealand presents Jaylen with the Community Safekids Hero Award as Ty and Spike look on.

Danielle of Swimsation Swim Schools, presents Jaylen with a voucher for a term's swimming lessons for the family.