Heroes rescue woman
mum Bystanders step in to help drowning mum
BYSTANDERS and emergency services battled to save the life of a Keilor Downs mother on a beach at Lorne after she was swept into the ocean by strong waves yesterday.
The 28-year-old was last night fighting for life in a critical condition in hospital.
The woman had been walking on rocks with family, including her parents, husband and child, when she was swept into the water near the Great Ocean Road, about 10am yesterday. Police Sergeant Jason Van Doren said the mother, who was originally from India, was pulled unconscious from the surf before bystanders commenced a one-hour long CPR effort to try to keep her alive.
“The family were walking on some rocks near Stony Creek on the beach there when some big waves washed her out to sea and she couldn’t swim,” Sgt Van Doren said.
“We then had some extremely community-minded people, some sensational people, step in to help, including a bloke who regularly swims the Pier to Pub who brought her to shore,” he said.
“A doctor was onshore also and they together commenced CPR as numerous other people from the community stepped into help before emergency services arrived. I can’t speak highly enough of the people who jumped in to help. Without those people we would’ve had a drowning. At least she’s been given a fighting chance.”
Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman Lana Wilson said the woman was in a critical condition when flown from the scene.
“A woman has been flown via air ambulance helicopter to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition post water emersion,” she said.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the people who jumped in to help.” SERGEANT JASON VAN DOREN