The late Tony Rokov awarded Star of Courage | Bravery Awards

But the day he sacrificed his life to save that of his young tandem skydiving companion, stunned onlookers at Goulburn Airport.

Mr Rokov, late of Miranda, has been awarded a Star of Courage in the Australian Bravery Awards, to be announced by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Thursday. It is one of just two awarded, the other going to Lindt Cafe siege victim, Tori Johnson.

The honour is given for “acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril.” 

Mr Rokov, 44, was a highly experienced skydiving instructor, had served 23 years in the Australian Defence Force, where he also ran parachute training programs.  

Having left the Army in 2013, he worked as an emergency response officer and with Adrenalin Skydive as an instructor for several years.

His “meticulous preparation” counted for little on November 21, 2015, at Goulburn Airport. On that day, Mr Rokov was taking 14-year-old Canberra boy Elijah Arranz for his first tandem skydive. The wind was calm at just 11 knots when they started out.

“When they were approximately 20 metres from the landing, a freak gust of wind caused their parachute to collapse and violently fold in half,” the award citation read.

“Mr Rokov and the boy quickly began to plummet, during which time the boy was flipped horizontally. As they approached the ground, Mr Rokov immediately twisted his body under the boy and took the full force of the impact.”

Despite first aid being administered immediately, Mr Rokov died as a result of his injuries. Elijah was severely injured, but survived.

“By his actions, Mr Rokov displayed conspicuous courage,” the citation stated. 

Adrenalin Skydive head instructor Kobi Bokay had immediately noticed the way his longtime friend had “really twisted his body” to shield the boy.

“It’s a brave thing to do,” he said at the time.

He described Mr Rokov as “a tough-look person with a soft personality.”

“Tony was always such a helping person ... [if] you were upset or needed anything, he would be there,” he said just days after the accident.

“This is a very sad day for us. He was part of the family.”

Mr Bokay said the wind gust was so freakish, nothing could have prevented the accident. 

Mr Rokov is survived by his wife, Samantha, three children and a grandchild. Mrs Rokov could not be contacted for comment.

The Canberra Times reported last October that Elijah had undergone 12 months of intensive rehabilitation, learning to walk, talk and eat again after suffering brain injury in the crash. By that time he was back at his school, St Francis Xavier College.

Since 1975, 170 Star of Courage honours have been awarded, including the current two. It is the second highest Bravery Award behind the Cross of Valour. 

Meantime, former Goulburn man, Senior Constable Tim Thumpston has also been recognised in the awards.

He was awarded a Commendation for Brave Conduct for his actions with another police officer in Forster on May 4, 2013 when they went to the assistance of a people at a house fire.

Responding to a domestic incident with Senior Constable Brad Greenwood, they noticed smoke emerging from the house and large flames from the garage.

“After alerting fire services they noticed a woman attempting to douse the flames with a garden hose and a man banging on an outside front window,” the citation stated.

“The officers were told that the house was occupied. Without hesitation, both approached the front door and managed to gain entry.

“They entered the smoke engulfed house and moved down a hallway before locating a male victim. The officers managed to move the man towards the open door and to the safety of outside.”

SC Greenwood continued looking for other occupants before he succumbed to smoke. SC Thumpston went to the rear of the house but was unable to enter due to flames and the fire’s rapid spread. Both men started extinguishing the fire with garden hoses until emergency services arrived.

Senior Constable Thumpston also received a Valour Award from Commissioner Mick Fuller at a Goulburn attestation parade last August for the same act. He is a former Mulwaree High School student.