A man who was on the front lines of rescue attempts into collapsed buildings during the Christchurch earthquakes hopes an award will bring some kind of closure.

Dr Chris Henry, along with Dr David Richards and Paramedic James Watkins, were awarded the New Zealand Bravery Medal at Government House yesterday.

The trio tunnelled into the collapsed CTV building following the February 2011 earthquake, rescuing two people who were trapped.

Dr Henry still remembers the day clearly and thinks the team operated as well as it could.

"It was really heartbreaking," Henry said. "A lot of people did not get rescued and for their families that is completely devastating, of course, but I think we all did the absolute best that we could."

"I'm proud to have done something that was good, but I'm embarrassed to be singled out."

"You just do what's in front of you and I think anyone else would do the same if someone was twenty feet away from you - if they need help, you go and get them."

James Watkins echoed Dr Henry, saying he and his colleagues had their job to do, and they got out and did it.

"I'd like to think it's on behalf of all my colleagues that were there on the day," Watkins said.

"It has brought back a lot of memories - not good ones - but that's been dealt with," he said.

"Hopefully it's some closure."