Bondi Rescue star Clint Kimmins returns to Gold Coast after sacked over Covid-19 jab silence

A star of the hit reality show Bondi Rescue is heading home to Queensland after he was sacked from his lifeguard job on some of Australia’s most famous beaches for refusing to reveal his Covid-19 vaccine status.

One of the stars of hit TV show Bondi Rescue is returning home to Queensland a shattered man after being sacked for refusing to reveal if he’s had the Covid-19 jab.

Clint Kimmins, a champion surfer and triathlete from the Gold Coast who has been working as a Sydney eastern suburbs lifeguard for four years, was among a number of guards “coldly shown the door” by Sydney’s Waverley Council for refusing to get vaccinated or reveal their status.

He said it was a bitter blow after putting his life on the line to protect Australia’s busiest beaches.

Ironman and lifeguard Clint Kimmins at Bronte Beach. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We were on the frontline throughout the pandemic when they made us close the beaches and we’ve been left covered in blood from rescuing people and doing suicide retrievals from the rocks,” he said.

“To be treated this way is hugely disappointing.”

Kimmins said he believed his vaccination status was personal but the council had “stood over” lifeguards demanding proof.

“We were just shown the door, there was no compassion,” he said.

“There was no ‘sorry to be the bearer of bad news’ – it was a very cold exit by email. That was it.

“We’re some of the fittest, healthiest people on the planet and the council has lost a lot of experience. It will leave the busiest beaches in the world dangerously under-protected.”

Kimmins said the decision had left him emotionally and financially devastated, and he had seen a psychologist.

He said he had also lost his girlfriend and his dog as he prepared to move home to the Gold Coast “to get my head right”, and train for big-wave surfing and ironman triathlon events.

He said he believed the council’s vaccine mandate was unfair at a time when the world was starting to return to normal from the pandemic.

“I just think the whole thing’s been poorly handled – people should be being kind to each other at this time,” he said.

Kimmins announced he was leaving Sydney in an emotional Instagram post last week which drew likes and supportive comments from some of the other stars of Bondi Rescue.

“I’m proud of my time here in Sydney and my contribution as a lifeguard at the world’s craziest beaches,” he wrote.

“I have saved many lives, I have sadly witnessed many deaths, I have served the community by doing something I love and I have done it with pride and to the best of my ability.

“I have formed relationships with people I now care about deeply and I want to thank the locals for accepting me into their community. I will depart back to my home on the Gold Coast with my integrity intact …”

Bondi Rescue and former Home and Away star Ryan ‘Whippet’ Clark told Kimmins he was “spewing you’re leaving on those terms”.

“Thanks for the positives you brought to the service and the knowledge you’ve passed on to many,” he posted.

Waverley Council came under fire last month for sacking unvaccinated experienced lifeguards and hiring casuals.

“Like many other councils in Sydney, vaccination is mandatory for all staff,” the council said.