Cousins Kelly McKay, 15, and Payge Olds, 16, were in Wellington Harbour on Monday night when they heard screams for help from the water.
Rushing down the the water, Payge undressed fastest and swam 70 metres to rescue the man who had almost succumbed to drowning.
Despite not being a confident swimmer, Payge said that she knew the man’s life depended on her when she swam out to get him, and so she put her fears aside.
‘I’m really proud of myself and I’m happy that I was there,’ said the teen.
And although the harbour is known for housing sharks, eels and stingrays, Payge says she didn’t think about that when she saved the man’s life.
When she reached the victim, who was thought to be between 70 and 80Kgs, Payge found she couldn’t lift him because he was too heavy.
Yelling to her friends, a 17-year-old and 25-year-old then swam out to assist her in getting him ashore.
Once there pal Kelly McKay, 15, then administered CPR until the paramedics arrived.