Surf stars rise to occasion in mass rescue on beach
Australia's top surf life savers were involved in a mass rescue of swimmers – including children – swept out to sea at Maroubra on Sunday just minutes after they had finished racing a round of the famous NutriGrain surf ironman and ironwoman series.
Women’s winner Lana Rogers heard the rescue call go out on the radio around 3pm and immediately started to swim out to the swimmers in distress.
Newport’s Jackson Borg was with fellow surf life saver and kayaker Jimmy Walker who saw the start of the rescue from the sand with the pair also rushing to help the distressed swimmers.
Surf Life Saving Australia national sports manager Wayne Drury said 25 people were involved in the drama triggered by a “freak rip’’ which dragged them down the beach and out to sea.
“There were about 20 or 30 people, I’m not sure of the number, but they are all fine thankfully,’’ Rogers told The Daily Telegraph soon after.
“The water here moves quickly and they got swept out to sea.
“I just heard “rescue, rescue, rescue’ on the radio and immediately we all just responded. It’s what we do. It happened very quickly and everyone just reacted.’’
Rogers said it was the first time in 12 years of patrols she has been involved in a rescue.
“I only played a small part and we’re just happy everyone is OK,’’ she said.
Drury said four swimmers required medical assistance when they were returned to shore.
He confirmed most of the swimmers were tourists, including some from Ireland, who had been swimming between the flags but were dragged out to sea by the rip.
“It’s what we are here for, it’s what we do but I’ve never seen such a mass rescue during a competitions’’ Drury said
Jackson Borg, one of the stars of the ironman racing on Sunday, played a major role in the rescue and was one of the first to reach the struggling swimmers.