Kids save drowning tourists at Glenelg
These Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club nippers have been hailed heroes after selflessly jumping into the ocean to save two tourists caught in a rip.
West & Beaches
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A group of Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club nippers have been credited with saving the life of the two South Korean tourists who were drowning in a rip off the beach.
The boys were at a training session when they spotted the women, in their early 20s and on holiday in Adelaide, caught in a rip in the water to the right of the jetty.
Lachy Larven and Quinn Hammersley, both 12, immediately swam out about 80m and pulled the women from the rip.
Fellow juniors including Charlie Crowe, Angus Ganley and Astin Rouvray, all 11, then joined the rescue and surrounded the swimmers with paddle boards so the women could stay above water.
Senior lifesavers then arrived to bring them all back to shore.
“We were in the middle of training and two girls started yelling and screaming,” Lachlan said.
“They were fully clothed and caught in a rip.”
“I felt pretty proud of myself knowing we saved their lives.”
He urged tourists, as well as locals, to be aware of rips when swimming at the beach this summer.
“Always stay within the flags and don’t go too far out of your comfort zone,” he said.
Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club junior chairman Justin Ganley – who was in charge of training on the night of the rescue last week – said it could have been a very different situation had the team not been at training that evening.
“Where we train, the water creates a nasty little gutter and the girls found themselves in that; that’s why we have so many drownings,” Mr Ganley says.
“A couple of metres (of water) got over their heads, they panicked, were clinging to each other and pulling each other under.
“They had no ability to swim and had we not been in training, there’s a real good chance they could have drowned.”
He said the club was “extremely proud” of the children who used their knowledge to assist the rescue.
“It’s the core purpose of what we’re out there for … that’s what training is all about.”
He said once the girls were brought back to shore, they were handed over to lifeguards who monitored them to ensure they were stable enough to leave.
“Once they were free to go, they came back to find the kids and were thanking them, hugging and bowing down to them,” Mr Ganley says.
“I’m sure there are some very relieved parents back in (South) Korea knowing their kids are safe.”
