Surf life-savers from Otago and Southland have been officially recognised after being credited with helping save 50 lives in the past year.
The recognition came at the 2013 Otago Southland Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence, held at the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday.
More than 50 life-savers from across Otago and Southland received awards, including James Coombes, of the St Clair club, who was named Volunteer of the Year.
Mr Coombes has been a member of the club since 1997 and the club's head coach for the past season, co-ordinating 35 others in up to 11 training sessions a week.
He was also the club's patrol captain and an active committee member.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand Southern regional manager Stu Bryce said Mr Coombes deserved recognition after giving ''countless hours'' to his roles.
Among the other recipients, the award of Surf Lifeguard of the Year went to James Walters, of the Brighton club, and St Clair took the honour of top club of the year.
Max Corboy and Cameron Third, from the St Kilda club, Arthur Ibbotson, from the St Clair club, and Samuel Dwen, from Sunset Beach club, were also recognised again for their efforts in helping rescue school children near Purakaunui earlier this year.
The surf life-savers had been preparing for the Southern IRB Championship at nearby Warrington Beach when they were called to help 30 Columba College pupils caught in a rip off Canoe Beach, near Purakaunui, on March 1.
On Saturday, the four life-savers received the Rescue of the Year award, having already received Surf Life Saving New Zealand's national ''rescue of the month'' award last month.
Mr Bryce said surf live-savers across Otago and Southland clubs had together saved more than 50 lives in the past year, as well as contributing 7500 volunteer hours patrolling beaches and teaching beach safety to more than 4000 children.
''These actions are the expression of our values and it's the best of these values we celebrate with our awards,'' he said.
