The vertical rescue team that recovered Mr Cox’s body were Matthew Summers (represented by Supt Wayne Green), Kyle Lawrence, Stanley Halls and Michael Churchland.
On the day a man’s body was finally laid to rest near the Kimberley town of Halls Creek, the volunteers who completed the hazardous task of recovering it were recognised for their bravery and teamwork.
Gooniyandi man and musician Leon Cox, 36, had been employed to run the music program at Wongutha CAPS school when he slipped on hazardous rocks while fishing at Cape Arid in March.
Working in rough conditions, it took career firefighters and Emergency Services volunteers several days to recover his body, which was lodged between the same slippery rocks.
DFES Great Southern superintendent Wayne Green said it was “not your normal run of the mill one rope off a rock rescue”.
“We had cameras brought down from Perth and from that we were able to at least give them an idea of how the gentleman was lodged in the rocks,” he said.
“There were numerous lines and numerous people involved, and they were battling swells, windy conditions.
“There’s only a certain amount of individuals that were literally hanging off those ropes that are acknowledged, but it’s a huge team effort behind all of this.”
On Friday Supt Green presented certificates to four “vertical rescue qualified” local volunteers, saying they put themselves right in harm’s way to make sure a family could get closure and recover a body.
They were Matthew Summers, Kyle Lawrence, Stanley Halls and Michael Churchland.
Supt Green said three career firefighters from Perth would also receive the certificates in a separate ceremony.
Glenn Churchland, who is former manager of Esperance SES and Volunteer Marine Rescue, said the operation was a huge team effort.
“We just took a group photo of 10 or 12 people, and that’s about half of the people that we actually use on an operation like this,” he said.
“There’s a lot of people in the background.”
Mr Churchland said anyone curious about volunteering should go to a weekly training session at 7pm on a Tuesday at the rear of the group’s Brazier Street premises.
“We usually ask if you would like to join both units, SES and Marine Rescue,” Mr Churchland said.
“If you come down and introduce yourself someone will show you around and if you’re interested you’re given paperwork and you can run through the process.”
Mr Cox’s uncle Georgie Demi thanked the team for supporting his nephew, who is survived by his wife and child.
He said the funeral was last Friday at Milba community, an outstation just north of Halls Creek.
