Man rescued from dangerous surf at Sawtell Main Beach
More details have emerged about the young man who was pulled unconscious from wild surf at Sawtell on Sunday.
Coffs Harbour
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coffs Harbour. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The young man who was pulled from dangerous surf at Sawtell on Sunday remains in hospital.
A Coffs Harbour Base Hospital spokesperson said the 20-year-old is in a critical condition.
He was dragged unconscious from the water at Sawtell on Sunday afternoon as horrified locals and tourists watched on.
With some locals at the time describing main beach as ‘one big rip’ the man was spotted in trouble by Surf Life Saving NSW lifeguards on patrol.
They raced out and picked him up in their inflatable rescue boat and pulled him to shore.
According to Surf Life Saving NSW Duty Officer Les Pepper a doctor from Coffs Harbour’s Baringa Private Hospital was at the beach at the time and assisted lifeguards in conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
They continued CPR until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and took over.
The man was later transferred to Coffs Harbour Base Hospital in what NSW Ambulance inspector Joel Casey described at the time as a remarkable outcome.
Inspector Casey thanked lifeguards and bystanders for their bravery.
“They were amazing in a really scary situation,” Mr Casey said.
“Early initiation of CPR and defibrillation is critical to achieving the best possible outcome for a patient in cardiac arrest. If you ever get the opportunity to take part in a first aid or CPR course please do.”
“We encourage anyone going for a swim to understand your swimming ability and to always swim at patrolled beaches.”
It’s a message Mr Pepper was also keen to “ram home”.
He had a busy morning on Sunday responding to an incident at Moonee where two adults (a man and a woman) and a child ventured out in the creek.
“You wouldn’t call it a boat (the three were in) but more like an inflatable toy and it got swept out into the ocean and overturned.”
A kayaker came to their aid before Surf Life Saving NSW lifeguards could reach them and bring them to safety.
Paramedics attended and treated a woman for cuts to the legs she sustained when the trio were washed onto rocks.
The Moonee creek and beach area has seen a number of tragedies over the years.
The creek can appear deceptively safe and calm but depending on the conditions can drag people out to the ocean.
In 2018 four people died in one week at Moonee including three relatives — Ghouseuddin Mohammed, 45, Syed Rahath, 35, and Junaid Mohammed, 27.
Conditions didn’t let up in the days to follow with a woman tragically drowned at Coffs Harbour on Monday.
The 47-year-old woman, believed to be from Sydney, had been holidaying with family.
‘Amazed you were conscious’: Drunk as skunk driver slammed
A slurring, dishevelled Mid-North Coast council worker, who blew one of the highest blood alcohol readings a magistrate has ever seen, has been sentenced.
‘Kill yourself’: Youth worker appeals knife threat conviction
A Mid-North Coast youth worker who held a knife up to her wife and said “kill yourself” before ripping the shirt off her back when she tried to run, has launched an appeal in the district court.