Canterbury Earthquake, 12:51 22 February 2011
MBG986 Senior Sergeant Michael Brooklands
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
SCAD79 Constable Shane Cowles
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
MKAI41 Constable Michael Kneebone
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
DLAJ76 Constable Daniel Lee
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
Civilian Dr Chris Henry
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
Civilian Dr David Richards
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
Paramedic James Watkins
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
DJD413 Senior Constable Danny Johanson
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
Firefighter Scott Shadbolt
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
Civilian Dr Bryce Curran
The New Zealand Bravery Decoration
Civilian Dr Lydia Johns-Putra
The New Zealand Bravery Decoration
Back row, left to right: Michael Brooklands, Shane Cowles, Michael Kneebone, Daniel Lee
Front row left to right: Bryce Curran, Lydia Johns-Putra, Danny Johanson, Scott Shadbolt
Sergeant Michael Brooklands was on duty in central Christchurch when the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck on 22 February, 2011. He was one of the first police officers to arrive at the collapsed Canterbury Television building and took immediate command at the site. He contacted Police Communications and gave them a situation report, requesting Fire Service and other assistance.
A fire had ignited in the lower levels of the building, complicating rescue efforts. Sergeant Brooklands worked with Constables Cowles, Kneebone and Lee on the roof of the building to conduct several rescues amongst the rubble of the building’s lift tower. Their lives were at particular risk during the first hour when they were working under the precarious lift tower which was disintegrating with each aftershock.
They were initially able to free a woman and two children. The officers then searched for audible tapping or voices and managed to pinpoint the locations of at least eight survivors. Where possible, the officers dug down to the survivors and using stretchers sourced from the nearby Inland Revenue building, carried them to waiting medical personnel. They heard a woman calling for help in the burning area of the building and made several attempts to reach her with only wet clothing wrapped around their heads to protect against the heat and smoke. This took place before the Fire Service had arrived on the scene. Due to a brief change in wind direction they were able to climb down inside the building, reach the woman and pull her free. As well as climbing into the building and assisting with rescuing survivors, Sergeant Brooklands assumed control and deployment of staff at the site. The police team succeeded in rescuing at least six people from the CTV site. Sergeant Brookland communicated clearly with the Police Communications Centre, identifying the site needs. He established a grid pattern for the building search and assigned staff to specific areas, as well as initiating the establishment of a triage and mortuary facility. Sergeant Brooklands remained the police controller at the site until 3am the following morning.
Senior Constable Danny Johanson was deployed with a police unit carrying advanced medical kits and specialist equipment into the inner-city. The team used concrete cutting equipment at several sites and were at the forefront of several rescues at both the Pyne Gould Corporation (PGC) and Canterbury Television buildings.
Senior Constable Johanson joined a firefighter and two civilian doctors in a rescue operation to save Brian Coker who was trapped inside the PGC building. Mr Coker was in danger of bleeding to death with his legs pinned between a concrete pillar and a collapsed floor section. Senior Constable Johanson assisted with a complete double amputation of the man’s legs with a hacksaw and penknife. Inside the dark conditions of the collapsed building, Senior Constable Johanson climbed into a confined area beside the trapped man, lying on a staircase with his feet above him in order to access the area to conduct the operation. The man was anaesthetised with morphine and ketamine and tourniquets applied to both legs. The civilian doctor performing the amputation became fatigued and passed the hacksaw to Senior Constable Johanson, the second doctor and the firefighter who took turns completing the operation. The man was loaded onto a tarpaulin and carried to ambulance staff waiting outside the building. Several aftershocks hit during the operation, threatening to compromise the area Senior Constable Johanson was working in. Mr Coker survived due to their efforts.
Canterbury Earthquake