A South Australian plumber has told of the split-second decision that led to him jumping in the Murray River to save two drowning boys.

Key points: Ben McKenzie and his friend Lee Dobson were fishing when they heard screams

Ben McKenzie and his friend Lee Dobson were fishing when they heard screams He said he rushed into the water to pull both boys to the surface

He said he rushed into the water to pull both boys to the surface The two men are among 83 to receive commendations in the Australian Bravery Awards

Ben McKenzie's efforts have been recognised with a national bravery award, a year after the heroic act.

Mr McKenzie, 32, of Inman Valley, was just a regular knockabout plumber when a decision to go fishing changed his life.

"Me and a couple of my mates went down to the Murray mouth to go fishing and we were only there for 15 minutes or so and I heard a whole heap of panic to the right of us, a whole heap of screaming, didn't know what was going on," he recounted.

Two young boys had been swept away by a strong rip on a sunny day in late January last year.

The memories of what happened next are still vivid now.

"There were half a dozen people who had witnessed what was going on before we saw what was happening — and no-one was doing anything," Mr McKenzie said.

"I didn't really think, I took my shirt off to go in the water and the woman who saw the scene went to stop me, because she was worried if I went out there I could possibly drown.

"But I just took off my shirt and ran in there and got in there as quickly as possible."

Mr McKenzie quickly swam 20-metres out to the first boy.

"I eventually grabbed onto him and I was trying to look around, holding up this fella and I managed to kick [the second boy] with my feet," he said.

"He was already sinking and disappearing and that's when I just swum down and grabbed him and I had to hold them both up as best I could.

"Then eventually my mate came out, he grabbed one and I grabbed the other one."

Mr McKenzie and his friend, Lee Dobson of Happy Valley, have both received commendations for bravery in the Australian Bravery Awards.

The pair were among 83 people named by the Governor-General in the awards, recognising courage, sacrifice and selflessness.

Panic and lack of appreciation by parents

Surprisingly, Mr McKenzie still chastises himself as he remembers panicking when the incident began.

"Probably a bit disappointed with myself that I didn't handle it better, but it was that close that if I didn't get out there when I got there, that young fella, he would have disappeared because you can't see anything out there," he said.

He was appalled that the two boys, who he estimated were aged about nine or 10 years old, were left to themselves as a parent went fishing 200 metres away.

The Murray mouth near Goolwa. ( Supplied: Andrea Num Glover )

He said he was also surprised at the response when the boys were carried onto shore and began vomiting.

"I think they [the family] might have been a bit embarrassed, but he was still having a dig at the kids and saying it's a good lesson learnt by them," Mr McKenzie said.

"I was just shaking my head and saying 'how can you say that mate, these kids are young, you're the parent, you've got to look after them', especially at the Murray mouth, you just don't swim there."

So what if people start calling he and Mr Dobson heroes?

"I suppose I'd just have a bit of a giggle and a laugh, mate," he said.

"Honestly, I didn't expect it to happen that day, you don't think.

"I'm not a lifesaver in any aspect, but when you are put in that situation, you've got no other choice but to go out there — it was pretty full on actually."

Mr McKenzie often recounts those fateful few moments, second-guessing his actions and many "what-if" scenarios.

He has not had any contact with the boys or their families since; he does not even know their names.