‘Superwoman’ mum saves pair from drowning at Lake Kurwongbah

The daughter of a woman who saved two men from drowning at a Brisbane lake says her mum was “like a superwoman”.

A woman undergoing chemotherapy has saved two men from drowning at Lake Kurwongbah near Petrie in a “heroic” act.

Danielle Dipple, 55, was driving with her daughter Tori Dipple, 24, last Tuesday when they saw what looked like two men near a kayak about to drown.

“It came apparent pretty quick one was in trouble,” Danielle said.

“As we got closer, we realised an older guy was under water and his son-in-law was screaming for help.

“I skidded to a halt, didn’t think much and started to run down the bank, and I jumped to the water and proceeded to swim out when I noticed both were under the water.”

Danielle is undergoing chemotherapy for various health conditions.

“I think I was running off adrenalin – I’m flat out swimming,” she said.

Danielle Dipple with daughter Tori, 24. The mum, who is undergoing chemotherapy, saved two men from drowning at Lake Kurwongbah last Tuesday. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“I’m on a lot of medication for the diseases I have.

“I managed to breaststroke and get out there.

“I don’t know how I did what I did.”

Danielle swam over to the kayak and tried to pull it towards the two men.

“I quickly had to think how I was going to rescue them because time was vital – it was apparent the older guy had been under the water for quite some time,” she said.

“I thought ‘the both of them are going to die here’.

“Once I got the kayak round to them, the young man was able to grab it.”

Danielle said there were multiple thoughts going through her mind.

“I was terrified in a way; I didn’t want them to drag me under and kill me,” she said.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d get back in time to get the older man because I had to get to the kayak and swim it back.

“I was worried he’d be gone by the time I got back.”

Daughter Tori Dipple, 24, and mum Danielle Dipple, who saved two men from drowning at Lake Kurwongbah last Tuesday. Picture: Nigel Hallett

After the trio were able to use the kayak to paddle back to safety, the older man was able to start breathing again.

Tori watched the whole thing and ran to get help.

“We were very concerned; the older man with them,” Danielle’s daughter said.

“He was white, blue and coughing up a lot of water.”

But overall, she was very proud of her mother.

“Mum was pretty heroic – she drove straight to the scene,” she said.

“I was scared; I didn’t want her to go near them.

“They were pulling each other under.

“I am quite proud of her. She kinda was like a superwoman to me that day.

“She drifted down to the side of the dam, opened the door, jumped into the water and just swam.”

Originally published as ‘Superwoman’ mum saves pair from drowning at Lake Kurwongbah