In New Zealand, a young boy has become the world’s youngest recipient of the Mountbatten Award after saving his younger brother from a treacherous stretch of coastal water last year.
The hero was Kalya Gamage, 14, who must have paralyzed his mother with fear when he saw his brother Kithmi being pulled out to sea by 3-meter waves and said to her ‘Ok Mum, I’m going out. I might not be back.’’
12-year-old Kithmi was a good swimmer in his own right, but couldn’t resist being ripped off his feet by several large waves that broke ashore on Chrystalls Beach in South Otago. Quickly tiring himself out trying to fight his way back to land, he was out around 60 meters (180 feet) treading water in a “notoriously-dangerous” patch of coastal ocean where the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) notes “no one survives.”
Kalya jumped into the frigid water and had little difficulty reaching his brother, but became nervous about whether he could reach the shore.
But he was relieved that they did, cold and tired, but alive.
“Undoubtedly, Kalya’s brave response saved his brother’s life that day,” said the RLSS.
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Kalya wants to start a business or be an engineer when he grows up, but has spent time specifically improving his swimming skills. Those skills, and the rescue they afforded, won Kalya the 2022 Mountbatten Award, given to a single member of the whole British Commonwealth per year—over 2 billion people in 56 countries.
While his high school and even the Kiwi government expressed their pride at Kalya’s bravery and presence of mind, the greatest reward will of course be having his brother around for many decades to come.
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Kalya Gamage, you are a hero.