Inside a collapsed Christchurch building three years ago, an Australian doctor saved a man’s life using nothing more than tradesmen’s tools.
Brian Coker almost certainly would have bled to death in the darkened rubble of New Zealand’s devastating 2011 earthquake, which killed 185 people and injured thousands.
The then 52-year-old’s legs were pinned between a concrete pillar and a collapsed floor section of the Pyne Gould Corporation building.
On Monday, urologist Lydia Johns-Putra will be recognised for her exceptional bravery in amputating Mr Coker’s legs in time to get him to hospital.
Dr Johns-Putra, from Ballarat in Victoria, is one of two people to be awarded the esteemed New Zealand Bravery Decoration at the New Zealand Bravery Awards in Wellington.
The other person to receive the honour is the anaesthetist who helped her, Dr Bryce Curran.
Dr Johns-Putra had been in Christchurch for a medical conference when the 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit on February 22, 2011.
Many of the doctors there offered to treat those hurt and were directed to the collapsed Pyne Gould building where Mr Coker was trapped along with about 30 others.
The father-of-two was fully conscious but bleeding heavily, and there was no way he could be freed.
Dr Johns-Putra and Dr Curran worked quickly in the dark and confined space to remove the anaesthetised Mr Coker’s badly damaged legs above the knees.
With no proper surgical instruments, they had to make use of what was available – a tradesman’s hacksaw and a Leatherman fold-out knife.
Dr Johns-Putra began the physically demanding field operation, before passing the saw to Dr Curran and an accompanying firefighter and police officer, who each took turns.
Despite being shaken by a small aftershock they kept going.
Mr Coker survived due to their efforts.
Dr Johns-Putra will be honoured at the New Zealand Bravery Awards on Monday along with 26 others, who were selected from nominations received after the Christchurch quake.