WA Governor His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Gold Star recipient Connor Butson, and Royal Life Saving WA President Vaughan Davies

Warnbro teen acknowledged for saving life

Warnbro teen Connor Butson received a Gold Star Bravery Award at last year’s Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Awards after saving his one-year-old brother from drowning in the swimming pool at their home.  

16-year-old Connor rescued his brother Silas in early 2023 after he managed to get outside the house unnoticed by the family and fell into the backyard swimming pool.  

After noticing his younger brother wasn’t in the house, Connor went looking and immediately saw that a baby gate and door had accidentally been left open. He went straight outside to find Silas floating in the backyard pool.  

Silas was unresponsive by the time Connor pulled him from the pool and rushed him to their dad for help. He was treated by paramedics at the home and went on to make a full recovery.  

His quick response and vigilance resulted in him saving his brother’s life.    

“When I’d found what Connor had done and I’d seen it on the footage of the cameras at home I was really proud. We said to Connor literally if it wasn’t for him and his vigilance of wondering where his brother was and going to look and just the fact that he acted so quickly – you know a lot of people, even adults, can panic and stand there and they’re moments that are required and precious – he didn’t even take a moment, he just straight in and grabbed him. It literally was the difference, I believe, between him being alive and him not being with us,” said Connor’s mum Kathryn. 

Connor was nominated for a Bravery Award by his parents as they believed it was important that his courageous actions be acknowledged by the wider community.  

“He needed something that wasn’t just from us to show that what he did was something excellent and that it was lifesaving, even if he didn’t think it was,” said Kathryn. 

Stories such as Connor’s are perfect examples of the heroism demonstrated by everyday lifesavers all over WA and the very reason why the Bravery Awards exist.  

If you know someone who has saved, or attempted to save, someone's life you can nominate them for this year's Bravery Awards by following the link below.