Surf life saver and pool guards come together to save mother and daughter

Off-duty lifesavers who rushed to save three people at a popular surf beach have told of how they managed to save two of three family members from a deadly rip.

Three off-duty lifesavers risked their lives in swirling surf to try to save the lives of a group of swimmers caught in a treacherous rip at the weekend.

Cameron Burfield, Ella Langford and Bonnie Armour called on all their skills as they bravely swam out in dangerous waters near Victor Harbor on Saturday.

Surf lifesavers, Mr Burfield and Ms Armour and swimming pool lifeguard Ms Langford all happened to be at Waitpinga Beach when they noticed a mother, her daughter and a 71-year-old man all caught in a rip.

Without hesitation the trio dived into the waters in a desperate bid to rescue the swimmers from drowning. Tragically, the man, who was trying to save the woman and child, was pronounced dead at the beach, while the mother and daughter were dragged back to shore.

The heroic rescuers are urging beachgoers to be ultra careful on the state’s coastal waters.

Mr Burfield, of Myrtle Bank, was with Ms Langford enjoying time with friends at Waitpinga, which was not patrolled.

Seacliff surf life saver Bonnie Armour, Somerton surf life saver Cameron Burfield and pool life guard Ella Langford. Picture: Dean Martin

The Somerton life saver, with 14 years experience, says his “brain just switched into gear” and got to the task at hand to save the struggling mother.

“I dived straight in knowing pretty well I could back myself to go out and help, even though it was quite terrifying for all of us that were involved,” Mr Burfield, 26, said. “It was daunting and quite scary, but we all did the best we could.

“As beautiful as these southern coast beaches are, they are extremely dangerous and I would absolutely give warning to know your limits.”

Meanwhile, Ms Armour, 25, was laying down on the beach playing her guitar when she heard a man screaming. She asked a friend to bring her a surfboard down from the car park so she could help Mr Burfield and Ms Langford who were already in the water.

“I saw Ella with the kid and they looked like they were struggling because she was trying to keep the child afloat in the rip,” Ms Armour, of Tanunda, said.

“I got to them then I put Ella and the kid on my board, put myself in the water, held the board at the nose so it would stay straight and then slowly paddled into the shore, crossing the rip.

“It took me about 20 minutes to get them out of the water because that rip was so strong.”

She started doing CPR “for a long time” on the man who had been dragged from the water. Ms Langford, 25, praised the child for “being really brave”.

“I got to the man first but he was already deceased but then I heard the daughter screaming for help and I didn’t notice her earlier.

“We made a conscious effort to stay away from the dangerous parts of the beach,” said Ms Langford, from Mitchell Park.