Many would hail a man who came to teenager Rebecca Middleton's aid and held her hand as she lay dying by the side of the road in Ferry Reach as a hero. But few might expect that young man was already a hero twice over by that fateful night in the summer of 1996.

Last night Dana Rawlins was among ten Bermudians honoured for heroism and bravery in a ceremony held at Government House.

Although Mr. Rawlins found and tried to help the murdered teen - taking her pulse, alerting 911 and comforting the girl as her life slipped away - last night he actually received a bravery award for a life he saved in 1991.

While at Astwood Park that July, Mr. Rawlins saw a man lose his footing while standing on a rock taking photos.

As the man plunged into the water below, "Dana dived down and dragged the unconscious body to shore and spent several minutes trying to revive the victim until emergency personnel arrived", Phil Emery, vice chairman of the Bermuda Bravery Association told those gathered at last night's ceremony.

"The gentleman suffered severe head injuries and lacerations to his body from the reefs. Dana's bravery and quick action resulted in the eventual complete recovery of the victim."

Attending with his young family last night, Mr. Rawlins said that when he first heard he was receiving the award, he immediately thought it would be related to the fateful night with Ms Middleton.

Finding out he was being honoured for his heroism of a decade ago came as a bit of a shock, he said although he remembers the event very clearly. "He wasn't thinking about it," said nine-year-old son Zacchaeus of his father's plunge into the water. "But he acted right."

Four-month-old Jada Rebecca Rawlins was also on hand with her mother, Cornelia for the awards. She takes her middle name from Ms Middleton, and while she may be too young to remember the ceremony, her brother vows to tell her all about it.

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