A Gisborne construction worker who dragged an 89-year-old man through the broken window of a burning house has come forward, a day after police appealed for the rescuer to make himself known.
Tim Morris, 37, walked into the Gisborne police station on Sunday morning.
He and a friend had been driving along Aberdeen Rd around 1am on Saturday when they spotted the blaze and pulled over. Battling thick smoke, the pair hauled the occupant out through a broken window to safety.
Morris then checked whether anyone else was inside and ran to neighbours for help. Once emergency services arrived, he and his friend slipped away into the night.
Police said the 89-year-old is recovering well in hospital.
Morris, who was born and raised in Gisborne, said it only sank in on Sunday morning, when his friend showed him the police appeal.
"I just wanted to get him out," he said.
"It's been a bit emotional. At the end of the day, helping people makes me feel good."
Detective Senior Sergeant John Love said Morris did not want to make a fuss when he turned up at the station.
"I think that tells you quite a lot about the person who walked through our doors today," he said.
"However, thanks to his quick actions, the house occupant was able to escape a life-threatening situation."
Love said police went looking for Morris to thank him, and he had not been in any trouble.
"We wanted the opportunity to shake his hand and say 'thank you'. We got that opportunity today.
"He might not consider himself a hero, but his actions made a very real difference to another person on what must have been an incredibly frightening day."
SHARE ME