The 32-year-old - an operational caretaker for Lake Macquarie City Council - was in his truck when a group of distressed people flagged him down near the Blacksmiths boat ramp and pointed out a capsized tinny about 200m from shore.

With a strong tide running out, the man who had been in the small vessel was quickly being dragged towards Swansea bar. He was in trouble.

Mr Seymour ran along the water's edge to get closer to the man before he swam out and brought him back to dry land.

It's been more than a year since Mr Seymour's heroics in May, 2018, but the Swansea man will travel to Sydney next Tuesday where NSW Governor Margaret Beazley will present him with a Royal Life Saving NSW certificate of commendation for his bravery.

"I looked into Swansea Channel and I could see some arms flapping around in the water," he said.

"I parked the truck, put the hazards and flashing lights on and just basically started running."

A bystander had called an ambulance, so paramedics were waiting to treat the elderly man when he was pulled him ashore.

Mr Seymour, who lives with his fiancee and two young children, said he grew up around the water at Lake Macquarie and spent time in Nippers as a child.

"I just realised I was capable of doing it [the rescue] and I just reckon that anyone who was capable would have done the same thing," he said.

"I could see what was going on. He was struggling, he was popping up and down, his head was going under. I knew I'd be able to catch up to him and get him in, no dramas."

Royal Life Saving NSW CEO Michael Ilinsky said commendation awards were handed out to people who showed "outstanding initiative, expertise and empathy".

"Simply put, these people are deeply inspiring," he said.

"Quite often people are helping someone they do not even know - they are carrying out a totally selfless act."

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