'Take my brother first' (For years, Australia’s bravest boy was overlooked...)

news.com.au ^ | 6th May 2016 | John Tyson

[naturalman1975]

"TAKE my brother first."

These were the final words spoken by a shy 13-year-old boy: my son, Jordan, while trapped in the 2011 Queensland floods.

When help arrived, Jordan's first thought was not of himself. It was of his younger brother Blake, then just 10.

They must've been terrified. Jordan couldn't swim; gushing water and chaos surrounded him. He could've panicked but instead he helped rescuers Warren and Chris, civilians like you and I, reach the car.

Jordan was closest and time was almost up, so they grabbed for him to take him to safety. Instead he pushed them away and clearly instructed them to take his little brother first. Moments later, Jordan and my wife were swept away to their deaths.

It hasn’t been an easy journey. Life takes many turns. This one, for me, was the cruellest.

But through that devastation, I kept returning to one thought about Jordan. Perhaps I was wrong about him. Perhaps he wasn't shy: perhaps "shy" was a label that didn't really fit someone who took those actions, who said those four words.

He was scared of water and the dark and we’d joke that he was a "sook." He was quiet, yes. But he was tough. He was the toughest fella I'll ever meet in my life. I remember discussing my boys with a friend while watching them play. He asked who I thought the toughest was; I said Jordan. He laughed and fobbed it off. A few weeks later he proved it.

Tough isn't always loud and brash and brazen. Tough is sometimes four words quietly but firmly spoken by a boy who couldn’t swim as water threatened to submerge him.

[naturalman1975]

Australia has an Honours system that includes the decorations given to our military personnel, but also includes a parallel system of medals for civilians who perform acts worthy of recognition, including acts of bravery. Members of the armed forces can also receive these civil awards in appropriate circumstances.

The Bravery Medal (BM) is the third tier decoration in that system awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. It comes after the Cross of Valour (CV), and the Star of Courage (SC).

Today, Jordan's father will accept the posthumous Bravery Medal for his son.

The citation reads:

The late Master Jordan Lucas RICE

On 10 January 2011, during a period of heavy rain, Jordan Rice was with his mother and younger brother when they were caught in fast rising floodwater in Toowoomba, causing their vehicle to stall.

As the floodwaters rose, the conditions deteriorated and the vehicle began to submerge. Two men entered the fast flowing water to provide assistance, however, given the strong current, both encountered difficulties. Only one of the men reached the vehicle and had to be helped by the family in doing so. Showing great selflessness and presence of mind, Jordan put his brother first, which enabled the man to safely extract Blake from the vehicle and, with the help of the second man, take Blake to safety. In hazardous conditions, Jordan and his mother exited the vehicle and, as it began to move in the current, they managed to grab hold of a light pole. However, the current was too strong and they were swept away. Sadly, they were later found deceased.

By his actions, Jordan Rice displayed considerable bravery.

Mr Warren McErlean and Mr Chris Skehan, the men who rescued Blake Rice have previously been awarded the Bravery Medal.

[DesertRhino]

A true man.

[2banana]

All children should be taught how to swim.

I have seen people drowned in a calm 30 foot swimming hole.

Even one day of lessons could have saved them.

[ConorMacNessa]

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 KJV

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[Roos_Girl]

Shy is frequently the word used when introvert is more correct. Brave young man.

[piytar]

Agreed.

But I don’t understand not knowing how to swim. First time I went into a pool I could swim. I was 5 or 6. It wasn’t pretty (doggy paddling), but could swim.

Some things just don’t make sense to me.

[piytar]

A true hero. Sigh.

[GizzyGirl]

I can’t imagine the heat in dad’s heart as he accepts this honor medal in Jordan’s name! What a fine young man he proved to be!

[sdpatriot]

my God..... a True Brother in every sense..... A warrior.....

made me shed a few for sure..... God Bless you Jordan

[ArmyTeach]

My mother cold not swim. She sank like a rock at any effort. But she made sure that I could swim, starting with holding me as a baby in her hand while I kicked and paddled.

[kearnyirish2]

I agree, but in cases like this swimming may not have made a difference. When dealing with flooding/rushing waters, often there is debris and currents that make swimming impossible or futile.

Funding is probably a big reason why so many people never learn; in my area you can drive to places that are public but they aren’t close by (and not always very affordable - the further away the cheaper). Lakes and beaches I visited as a kid aren’t places we take our children; we pay a little extra so they’re not surrounded by ferals. Even a couple of extra dollars per head along the Jersey shore makes all the difference in the world...

[DesertRhino]

There ain’t no ‘I can swim” in a true flash flood washing away cars like he was in.

[piytar]

True.

I was just referring to normal swimming.

The forces involved with flood waters are way beyond any human’s ability to overcome.

And per one of my earlier posts, this kids is a true hero.

[DesertRhino]

Agreed on both

[piytar]

Agreed on both points.

[SaraJohnson]

How touching. Thanks for sharing that story.

[kvanbrunt2]

Agreed.

But I don’t understand not knowing how to swim. First time I went into a pool I could swim. I was 5 or 6. It wasn’t pretty (doggy paddling), but could swim.

Some things just don’t make sense to me.>>>> i too starting swimming at around 5. i think it is fear. adults as well. i grew up around water my pop pop had a shack on the Chesapeake when i was a kid.

[piytar]

That makes sense. If you stiffen up with fear, you will flail and drop like a rock.

I happen to lack the “fear” gene. LOL

PS Ok, not completely. When I saw the original Amityville Horror at age 9, it scared the heck out of me. A few other things in my life have, too, but swimming was never one of them.