Phillip Dunning, Rhys Jones, Samuel King and Daryl Price, all of Corowa, and Mr Dunning's nephew Terry Townsend, of Tasmania, received a Group Bravery Citation this week.

Mr Townsend was also given a Bravery Medal for his role in responding to the incident on April 22, 2018, that claimed the lives of two young men.

The awards described how the five men arrived on the scene after a car travelling at high speed hit a barrier at the end of Cadell Street and became airborne, before heavily impacting the ground and quickly igniting.

Despite the flames, heat and danger, the men tried several times to pull the injured driver from the vehicle, finally succeeding just before it was fully engulfed.

"Without consideration for his own safety, Mr Townsend again approached the burning vehicle and climbed into the front passenger area," his medal citation read.

"He grabbed hold of the driver and managed to drag him towards the open car door."

Bradley Potts, of Corowa and Brent Coutts, of Ascot Vale, both aged 24, died in the fiery crash.

Detective Inspector Winston Woodward at the time called the group's actions heroic, saying "all that could be done to save the life of anybody inside the vehicle was being done".

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The award recipients who spoke to The Border Mail on Friday said they were honoured and humbled to be recognised, but admitted the tragic incident had taken a toll.

"I'd only ever like to go through it once," Mr Dunning said.

"We should remember the people that do it every day, you know, the police, the ambos, the firies, they're the real heroes."

Mr Townsend had been visiting relatives in Corowa, his first trip to the town, as part of a family holiday when they heard the crash.

"We knew that people were going to be hurt, just from the noise and we knew we had to go and do whatever we could do," he said.

"I don't think my efforts were any bigger or smaller than everyone else's efforts there.

"It was a dangerous situation and anyone that was willing to help someone else out, all deserve some sort of commendation."

Mr Jones had been out feeding his dogs in the twilight when he heard first the speeding car, then the crash.

"We just did what most people, you'd think, would do at the time," he said.

"The adrenaline took over and we just did what we had to do."

During the rescue attempts, Mr Jones hadn't realised he actually knew the young driver.

He, like Mr Dunning and Mr Townsend, paid tribute to everyone who took part.

"We couldn't have done it without each other's help," Mr Jones said.

"All of us together had one last go and we eventually got him out, right at the last minute."

COVID-19 restrictions prevented the Australian Bravery Awards being presented in person.