Cops commandeer boogie boards to save kids caught in rip at Caves Beach

TWO hero cops who commandeered a pair of boogie boards and plunged into a lethal rip to save three drowning children at a beach near Newcastle said the trio were moments from death.

Senior constables Craig Hansen (left) and Craig Hansen saved three children from drowning at Caves Beach. Picture: Simon Bullard

TWO hero cops who commandeered a pair of boogie boards and plunged into a lethal rip to save three drowning children at a beach near Newcastle said the trio were moments from death.

But Senior constables Craig Hansen, 41, and Wade Fuller, 36, said they did not class themselves as heroes.

The officers responded to a triple-0 call about three children in strife at Caves Beach about 6pm last night.

The 47-year-old father of two of the children had tried to rescue them but he too ended up screaming for help as a 3ft swell overwhelmed him.

Two teenage girls and a nine-year-old boy almost drowned after being caught in a rip at Caves Beach. Picture: Simon Bullard

The on-duty officers dropped just their belts and boots, gained two bodyboards from the sand and, despite not being able to see anyone beyond the break on dusk, charged into the surf.

Sen Cons Hansen pulled one 15-year-old girl onto his board while his colleague swam another 20m to the other 15-year-old girl and her brother, aged nine.

“When I put the nine-year-old on the board he just continually said thank you sir, thank you sir,” Sen Cons Wade said.

“The 15-year-old said thank you a lot of and actually broke down and started crying.

“They didn’t have too much left in them.”

The father managed to make his own way to shore.

Sen Cons Hansen said the children were clearly in a desperate state.

“They were panicking by the time we got there, a bit emotional,” he said.

“It’s just what we did at the time, I don’t feel like a hero at all.”

Police officers Craig Hansen and Wade Fuller saved three children from drowning but don’t class themselves as heroes. Picture: Simon Bullard

But Amanda Borton, 29, who stopped a workout session with her friend to make the triple-0 call, said the pair were “definitely” heroes.

“They were just incredible ... he just dropped his belt on the sand and jumped straight in the water,” Ms Borton said.

“The dad tried to save them but he was screaming for help ... it was really full-on.

“They are so lucky there was even anyone here.”

Amanda Borton, who called triple-0 when she realised people were in danger in the water, said the cops who saved them are definitely heroes. Picture: Simon Bullard

Lake Macquarie chief inspector David Matthews said the men would be formally recognised for their efforts, which poetically occurred on Police Remembrance Day.

“They were on their last legs so we’re quite certain that without the actions of these two police officers those three children would have drowned,” Insp Mathews said.

“Not many people would swim straight into a rip at dusk.”

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