honour them at Government House.

The ceremony, organised by the Bermuda Bravery Awards Association, saw heroes reunited with the people they saved and 14 certificates dished out between recipients, ranging from lifeguards and Police officers to people who had simply "gone out of their way to help their fellow human beings''.

Organised in 1976 by William Masters, the BBAA annually convenes an eight-member committee to decide who they feel should receive the award in recognition of their bravery.

Committee chairman Mark Selley said: "We feel it is very important to recognise and appreciate people who display heroism, in the form of lifesaving or in just acts of bravery.'' He explained that just about anybody is eligible to receive the award, from lifeguards and Police officers who go "above the call of duty'' to the average citizen who puts his or her life in danger to help someone else.

The wide scope of the award was certainly reflected in the recipients, who ranged from Horseshoe Bay lifeguards to people just out for a ride in a boat.

One such person was Leroy Outerbridge, who was out in his boat enjoying August's Soca Extravaganza at Tiger Bay, St. George's when he saw the body of a woman floating in the water.

Mr. Outerbridge saved the woman, who turned out to be Rochelle Trott, by pulling her from the water and taking her to hospital. At yesterday's ceremony he said doing this deed made him "feel good''.

"It was just lucky I was in the right place at the right time,'' he said.

"The lady I helped wasn't missed for another half hour after that so it was sure she would have died. I was just glad I could do a good deed for someone else.'' Meeting the person they rescued for the first time since the incident were Kenneth O'Neil Cann and Colin Hendrickson.

The two friends' act of bravery dates back to June, 1993 when they saw the car of Joseph Mears plummet into the water near Watford Bridge in Sandys Parish.

After rescuing the driver from his submerged vehicle, the men then summoned the St. John Ambulance who transported him to hospital.

"I didn't know what had happened until I woke up in hospital a while later,'' Mr. Mears said, "but something like that makes you think about a lot of things.'' Asked how he felt about the two men who saved him, he said: "What can I say? I think the two guys who rescued me are marvellous and very brave. I mean that water was 16 feet deep and they came down to get me.'' Mr. Cann said: "It was a great feeling to see him here today. I give thanks and praise to God that I've still got my good health.'' His friend, Mr. Hendrickson, explained what it was that made him go under the water to save Mr. Mears.

"I could see he was taking too long to come up,'' he recalled. "I guess it was just instinct that made us go and help him. I'm glad to see he's alive and that all is well.'' Mr. Hendrickson added that his friend Henry Talbot should have been presented an award also because he was responsible for manoeuvring the boat into a position where the men could help.

Other award recipients were; Stephen Troake, Richard Forehead, Timothy Dewailly, Pat Colavecchia, Russell Dyrli, Andrew Davis, Kimberlee Simmons, and P.c. Brian K. Iris who all received one or more awards for lifesaving.