Latest Saved a Life Medal recipient recognised

Security Officer Thomas Tofilau of Armourguard Security receives an NZSA Saved a Life Medal for act of heroism in South Auckland.

On the 31st March at approximately 2100 hours, Security Officer Thomas Tofilau was driving through Te Irirangi Drive when he noticed a female leaning over the bridge. Thomas initially assumed she was watching the cars passing below however he was concerned by her actions and kept her under observation whilst he was stopped at the traffic lights.

When he saw the female start to climb up onto the bridge barrier, he put on his vehicle warning lights and quickly ran up to her and grabbed her hand to stop her from jumping.

The female burst into tears and kept saying she wanted to die and to let her jump. Thomas refused to let her go and pulled her down from the bridge, putting her into a bear hug.

He managed to calm her down enough and shifted away from the bridge where he was able to call the police and request their attendance. Police were onsite within 10 minutes, allowing Thomas to resume his duties.

Nominations for the Saved a Life Medal

The Saved a Life Medal was introduced by the NZSA to recognise and celebrate those workers within the security industry who have saved a life, or lives, through their actions.

The NZSA welcomes nominations from employers, customers, work colleagues, emergency service providers and members of the public who can verify that the actions of a Security

Officer, or a Security Team, directly contributed to the saving of a life. Nominations must be received within four months of the incident and be supported by evidence such as media reporting, letters of acknowledgement or witness statements.

The actions of the security worker should fall within the following situations:

• Assisting or removing a person, or persons, from life threatening situations

• Providing care to a person, or persons, that has resulting in their surviving life-threatening injuries

• Preventing a person, or persons, from causing life threatening harm to others

• Preventing a person, or persons from causing life threatening harm to themselves

• Identifying and removing risks that if unmitigated, could have caused life threatening harm to others

All nominations will be assessed by the NZSA executive, and recipients of the Saved a Life Medal will be recognised and profiled in the bimonthly NZSA newsletter and on the NZSA social media platforms, and will also receive an attractive inscribed award which they will retain.

Recipients of the Saved a Life Medal will be honoured with a roll call at the annual New Zealand Security Awards event and will automatically be included as a nominee under the appropriate award category.

To make a nomination, see the NZSA website for details.