Father calls for son who died saving brother to be honoured
THE father of Jordan Rice has appealed to Prime Minister Tony Abbott to officially recognise his son's heroic sacrifice in the 2011 Toowoomba floods.
An online petition titled "My son died saving his little brother - it would mean the world to us to have his bravery acknowledged" has already garnered more than 13,000 signatures.
Mr Abbott called for Jordan to be considered for a posthumous Cross of Valour in the wake of the 2011 floods.
John Tyson said he was still waiting for his son's courage to be acknowledged.
"My son's last words were 'take my brother first'," Mr Tyson said.
"He and his mother were trapped on the roof of our family car as the massive 2011 Queensland floodwaters surrounded them - and as a good Samaritan waded in to help my brave little son, Jordan, just 13 years old, insisted his little brother was saved first.
"Jordan couldn't swim. He must have been petrified.
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"But he put his fears aside to make sure his brother made it through the terrifying flood.
"Moments later, Jordan and his mum were swept to their deaths.
"Time can never heal what losing them has meant for us. We're still devastated, and struggling."
Mr Tyson's petition asks Mr Abbott to back-up his push for Jordan to receive the highest civilian award for bravery in Australia.
"I was so proud. I waited, waited and waited - but it never happened," Mr Tyson said.
"Three years on, I feel like Jordan's bravery has been forgotten about and all the talk by politicians were empty gestures."
- Sign the petition here.
