Plunging into a flooded river to rescue a woman clinging to a tree branch has earned South Australian Country Fire Service officer Thomas McPeake a bravery award.
Five of Mr McPeake's colleagues have also been presented with a bravery citation for their conduct during the same incident in July, 2012.
The group had responded to reports that a woman had become trapped in the flooded Finniss River, south of Adelaide, after attempting to drive across a ford.
After trekking through flooded terrain, where the water was chest deep, the volunteers spotted the woman clinging to a branch in the main river channel.
"Realising the urgency of the situation they formed a plan to rescue the woman and Mr McPeake volunteered to enter the water," the bravery citation said.
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With a rope tied around him, he plunged into the river about 15 metres upstream, using the current to reach the woman.
When he did a second rope was thrown to him which he secured around her before his colleagues pulled the pair to safety.
Those involved in the rescue, were Andrew Gabell, Cory Johnson, Kenneth Smirke, Paul Thurkle and Amos Zadow.
They received their bravery awards at a ceremony at Government House in Adelaide on Thursday.
