Bernard Riedl, of Auckland's Belmont, has been awarded a global medal for heroism, after attempting to save a drowning child in 2017.

An Auckland man has reluctantly accepted a medal of heroism for attempting to rescue a young boy who drowned despite his efforts.

The salesman from Auckland put his life on the line in an attempt to rescue the child who was drowning after falling from a wharf in Devonport on November 11, last year.

Bernard Riedl, of Belmont, said the events of the day were still vivid in his mind and he hoped to move on from the traumatic event.

JASON DORDAY/STUFF Bernard Riedl, of Belmont, after he dived in to try and save a drowning boy at Torpedo Bay but was unable to.

It was an overcast and windy day, when Riedl headed out for a walk after visiting the Devonport navy museum.

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He walked up to a wharf at Torpedo Bay and was struck by the shrieking sound of a mother who was screaming as her young son, 5-year-old Haoran Chen, struggled in rough waters after falling off the wharf into the sea.

Supplied Belmont man Bernard Riedl after being awarded a Robert P. Connelly Medal of Heroism Award by Auckland mayor Phil Goff.

A fisherman was also yelling for someone to jump into the water, Riedl recalled.

Without thinking, and by what he calls instinct, Riedl dived off the Torpedo Bay wharf in his underwear in an attempt to save the young boy.

Haoran had been on a family excursion at the time.

"I still remember the screams of the mother of the boy who died in the event. I try not to think about it," Riedl said.

The water was choppy and Haoran had been "really, really struggling" to keep afloat.

Although he slipped in and out of consciousness, Riedl remembered the day vividly.

JASON DORDAY/STUFF The boy's body was pulled from the water by the Coastguard but was unable to be revived by emergency services on November 11, last year.

He got hold of the boy, who gripped his arms around his neck, but Haoran was panicking and both were swallowing a lot of salt water.

"Huge waves were going over our heads. I was weak so I tried to lay on my back but we lost touch."

Riedl washed up on some rocks a short time later and was able to climb to safety.

JASON DORDAY/STUFF Police and ambulance staff at Torpedo Bay Navy Museum Wharf in North Head the day of the accident.

Unfortunately, Haoran's body was pulled from the water by the Coastguard but was unable to be revived by emergency services.

On Monday, at a ceremony at the Devonport Public Library, Riedl was honoured for his courage and selflessness in trying to save the young boy.

Initially, Riedl did not feel the honour was necessary, but felt better after hearing speeches dedicated to his efforts.

He was awarded the Robert P. Connelly Medal of Heroism, an international award, by Takapuna Kiwanis service club.

"Despite his modesty about his efforts, Bernard Riedl showed immense courage in risking his own life to save the life of another," Auckland mayor Phil Goff said in a media release.

"He leapt into the water without hesitation and did all he could to save the boy, and almost lost his own life in the conditions."

Supplied MP for North Shore Maggie Barry, Belmont man Bernard Riedl, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chairman George Wood at the ceremony.

The Robert P. Connelly medal was created to formally acknowledge those who put at risk or lose their lives in an effort to save another.

The case of Haoran Chen's death is active before the coroner.

Safety rings have since been installed on the wharf.