A man who risked his life when he paddled out on his surfboard to rescue a surfer bitten by a shark at Ballina last year will be awarded for his bravery in Sydney today (Friday).
Darren Rogers rushed into the water at Shelley beach around 10am on February 9, 2015, after Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahara was attacked by a large great-white shark.
Mr Rogers took the surfer back to the beach and applied first aid, but Mr Nakahara died in his arms.
Mr Rogers will receive a Silver Medal and Gallehan Award for his bravery in the Royal Humane Society of NSW annual awards.
The official bravery citation says Mr Takahara was surfing with six others when he was attacked by the 4.2 metre Great White.
‘The shark swam under some of the surfers and attacked Mr Nakahara who was paddling out to catch another wave,’ it reads.
‘The shark took both Mr Nakahara’s legs and part of the back board.
‘Most of the surfers, including Darren Rogers, quickly made their way to shore.
‘The two closest to Mr Nakahara went to his rescue (one either side) and they tried to paddle back to the rocks.
‘Darren Rogers saw that they were having difficulty and noticed Mr Nakahara’s head was leaning right back into the water, so he swam back to the rescuers and supported ‘Mr Nakahara’s head. The shark was still in the area at the time.
‘Darren Rogers then carried Mr Nakahara’s body to the beach.
‘With the help of another surfer proceeded to perform mouth to mouth resuscitation while the other rescuers secured their leg ropes around Mr Nakahara’s severed legs.
‘Mr Nakahara died in Darren Rogers arms while he was performing the resuscitation prior to the arrival of the ambulance,’ the citation read.
NSW Governor David Hurley will present the awards on behalf of the society of NSW at an investiture at Government House, Sydney, on Friday at 3pm.
A total of 26 medals will be presented by the Governor and as Patron of the Royal Humane Society in recognition of those who put their own lives at risk to save someone in immediate danger.
Full details of the awards available at the Royal Humane Society website www.braveryaward.org/awards/citations.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
