Bravery honour for boat tragedy rescuers

Border protection and defence officers have been honoured with a group bravery citation for their part in rescuing 42 asylum seekers in December 2010.

As many as 100 people were thrown into rough seas as their boat foundered at Rocky Point on Christmas Island.

Up to 50 drowned in the tragedy.

The citation was awarded to 17 personnel from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Defence Force.

Customs chief Michael Pezzullo has paid tribute to the courage of officers in the face of what he said was extreme peril.