When Jane Ong received a routine call on a usual work day, she had no idea her life was about to change forever.
The paramedic and her colleague were dispatched to help in what she thought was a car crash in Queensland's Lockyer Valley.
When she got to the scene, a remote farmhouse near Gatton, about 90km west of Brisbane, Ong realised it was far worse.
There was a row of police officers with their guns drawn in an active crime scene, and Ong and her colleague were told to park their ambulance and take cover in a ditch.
"We could hear gunshots and it sounded like a semi-automatic," Ong recalls.
Jane Ong has since left the Queensland Ambulance Service but her bravery in the 2017 incident has been commended. Credit: Supplied
Ong and her colleague took over first aid for the wounded officer, but in the rush to help, realised they had left equipment back in the van.
Ong made a split-second decision to try to save the officer's life that put her back in the line of fire, dashing towards the ambulance to retrieve the tools.
"Another police officer actually started yelling at me to get down," Ong recalls.
"I was screaming back, saying, 'Just cover me, cover me!'"
A screenshot from a police dashcam video, tendered as evidence at the inquest into the death of policeman Brett Forte, shows Ricky Maddison as he opened fire on police vehicles in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane, on 29 May 2017. Credit: AAP
With the sound of multiple gunshots still ringing around them from an unknown location, Ong and her colleague pair resumed treating Forte.
They were finally able to move the officer on a stretcher back to the van when backup arrived. With a police officer driving, the back of the ambulance door swung open, once again exposing the crew to fire.
The ambulance retreated back to an area of safety further down the road and resuscitation efforts continued.
Tragically, despite their efforts, Forte could not be revived.
The tragedy of that 29 May 2017 day left a mark on many people — notably Forte's family.
The findings of an inquest last year described how there were hallmarks of an ambush as gunman Ricky Maddison fired on police, including a helicopter, multiple times.
Maddison had shot at police vehicles, including Forte's car, with 27 bullets.
For Ong, the incident was the one that "tipped" her over, and she has since left the Queensland Ambulance Service.
But for her extraordinary courage in putting herself in danger trying to save Forte's life that day, she has been recognised in Wednesday's Australian Bravery Decorations, with a commendation for brave conduct.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn awarded 41 decorations to recognise the courage of 46 people.
When asked about that day in 2017, Ong remains humble.
"You know, anyone would have done the same thing," she said.
"Unfortunately in this case it didn't go right, and so in a way I just don't feel like I was deserving of this in a way because it didn't have a good ending.
"But I certainly know that my family is very proud of me."
