By LIA SPENCER
A BRAVE Narre Warren South boy has received a bravery award for saving a young girl’s life in March.
At 5pm on 27 March, Narre Warren South 17-year-old Daniel Grulke risked his own life to save a young girl standing on the train tracks towards an oncoming train at Beaconsfield Station, intending to commit suicide.
The driver of the train started to break heavily while sounding the horn about 150m from the girl. People started to yell at her to get off the tracks to no avail.
When the train was about 25m away Daniel made the split-second decision to jump off the platform and push the girl, aged about 15, off the tracks “with about five seconds to spare”.
Following his extraordinary rescue, Daniel said that he didn’t feel like a hero.
“…anyone else in my position would’ve done the same thing,” he said.
Last week, the St Francis Xavier College student received a bronze medal from the Royal Humane Society.
He was one of 35 Victorians who were presented with bravery awards of The Royal Humane Society of Australasia on Friday 14 December 2012 at Government House, Melbourne.
Daniel was nominated for the bravery award by Pakenham police officer, Sergeant Richard Dawson.
Sgt Dawson labelled the St Francis Xavier College student a hero and said it was the first time in his 16 years in the police force that an act of bravery had moved him to take such an action.
“I think he definitely deserves some recognition for his actions – he went above and beyond,” Sgt Dawson said.
Earlier this year, Daniel was recognised by the college at an assembly in June. School principal Paul Desmond said at the time that he displayed “great courage, resilience and commitment.
“On behalf of your college, may I state publicly that your bravery makes us proud,” he said.
Visit beyondblue.org.au, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 251, or Lifeline on 131 114 if you are in need of immediate assistance, or talk to someone you trust.
