The Rees and Dart Rivers join Lake Whakatipu. Jonathan Young dived in to try and save a child near the top of Lake Whakatipu in January 2023 but did not survive. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
The partner of a man who drowned while trying to save a struggling child in Lake Whakatipu near Queenstown says he will forever be missed and remembered for his courage, kindness and selflessness.
Jonathan Young has been posthumously awarded a New Zealand Bravery Medal for his [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/528121/drownings-prompt-call-for-more-protections-at-notorious-glenorchy-swimming-spot
rescue attempt] in January 2023.
Two other people involved in the rescue - Susan Burke and Sergeant Harry Ghodke - have also been honoured with the medal for their role in saving the boy.
The boy had been playing in the Rees River when he was pulled into Lake Whakatipu near Glenorchy by a strong current and went underwater.
Ghodke, an off-duty police officer, swam out to help but could not bring the boy back because of a strong undertow, instead telling him to float on his back while he went to get more help.
Young, who was visiting from New South Wales, dived in to help from the other side of the river but became exhausted trying to pull the boy in.
Another passer-by, Australian holidaymaker Susan Burke, also swam out to help, managing to hook her arm around the boy's chest and swim back to shore.
When Burke realised Young had disappeared, she returned to the water to help but could not see him, nor could two other men who swam out to help.
Young's body was recovered the following day.
His bravery award citation said the rescue attempt demonstrated selfless bravery at the cost of his life.
In a statement, Young's partner Hsu Tin said it was an honour to receive the award on his behalf, though part of her wished Young was accepting the honour.
"It's an honour of my life to have been loved by this man who had always put others first - the reason why we're all here and he isn't. Jonny was the kindest and most loving fiancé, son, brother, uncle and a caring cat dad to our orange boy Benny," she said.
"For Jonny, the 35 years he got to live on this earth - he had always lived the right way and did all the right things. He was smart, sporty, kind, helpful and strong inside and out - a textbook perfect man. All those of us who have loved and known him will never recover from having lost him and we have had to learn to heal this big void he left in us through his memories and the love he left us with."
Tin said Young sacrificed his life for the boy.
"When I think of Jonny, I will forever think of courage, kindness and most of all selflessness. He will forever hold the biggest space in our hearts and forever be missed and remembered for his bravery," she said.
Tin said she was thankful for the help she received from a police officer on the day of his drowning.
"Without her incredible kindness and sympathy, I wouldn't have known how I got through that day alone in a foreign country having lost my fiancé and my best friend of over 15 years," she said.
Burke's award citation noted that her actions ensured the rescue of the young boy and while tired from her efforts, she committed to searching for Young to the limit of her ability.
Ghodke's citation detailed how he addressed the immediate panic of the boy, calming him and telling him to float, allowing further time for a rescue.
In a joint statement, Burke and Ghodke described the rescue as a collective effort.
"First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers remain with Jonathan Young's family who tragically lost his life during this incident at Glenorchy on 19 January 2023. We appreciate the honour of being recognised with these bravery awards; however, we wish to emphasise that our actions were simply a response to a child in immediate danger," they said.
"We wish to acknowledge the courage shown by Jonathan, whose actions demonstrated profound selflessness. This was an extremely challenging and emotional event."
Young, Burke and Ghodke were among the 10 recipients of bravery awards in 2025.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon noted five of the eight people receiving the bravery medal were on or off-duty police officers.
"I would also like to acknowledge the loved ones of Jonathan Young, who are grappling with the biggest sacrifice of all - the loss of his life in his brave act of saving another," he said.
Young drowned less than a week after another man, Leroy Rodney James Kaaho, died at the same swimming spot while also trying to save a child.
The deaths prompted the coroner to call for greater public awareness of the risks at Lake Whakatipu and the Rees River.
Tin said she wanted to remind parents about the importance of water safety for children.
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