Six Piha surf lifeguards who worked with other emergency services to care for two men who fell down part of Lion Rock, have won the February Surf Lifesaving rescue of the month award.

Piha Lifeguard Jonathan Webber was alerted at his home just after midnight on February 24th by a friend of two men, aged 18 and 31, who had fallen 60 metres down a rock face.

Mr Webber rallied 5 other lifeguards, and together they located and treated the two injured men on the rough rock terrain. Both were critically injured, and the lifeguards stabilised them while they also prepared for the arrival of the rescue helicopter.

The lifeguards had expected they would find the two men dead as a result of their fall, and were amazed to find they had in fact survived. The victims are still recovering from their injuries.