Gold Coast surfer John Matthew Gordon, 62, awarded Commendation for Brave Conduct after Dreamtime Beach rescue at Fingal, NSW

As her body was slingshotted from a surfboard and pulverised by whitewater, Liv Titor asked herself repeatedly – “am I going to die today?” See the footage of the dramatic ocean rescue.

As her body was slingshotted from a surfboard and pulverised by punishing whitewater, Liv Titor asked herself repeatedly – “am I going to die today?”

On April 12 last year, the 37-year-old Ukrainian national was sucked out to sea in an instant after taking just two steps into a fast-moving rip at Fingal’s Dreamtime Beach on the NSW North Coast.

Dragged at speeds of “about 6 knots” around the headland, Gold Coast surfing identity John Gordon, who had just come in from a surf, saw Ms Titor’s sister screaming for help from the sand.

A quick-thinking Mr Gordon grabbed his surfboard and without hesitation paddled into the swell.

Gold Coast man John Gordon, who has been awarded a bravery commendation in the Australian Bravery Decorations for his dramatic rescue of Liv Titor in the surf at Fingal Head in April 2023. Picture: Nigel Hallett

On Tuesday, it was announced he will be bestowed a Commendation for Brave Conduct (CBC) from Australian Governor-General David Hurley for his heroic efforts.

But the Elanora-based Larrikin is humble: “Think of all the people that perform rescues, get in their cars and drive home and no one was around to see it.”

But on that April day last year, the crowd of people on the headland could only watch on in horror as Mr Gordon and Ms Titor fought to stay on the board as they were pulled towards the razor-sharp cliff face of the Fingal Headland.

The wild rescue was caught on drone video. Vision: Surf Life Saving NSW / Australian UAV Service

“Right before we made it to safety we were in the absolute thick of it,” Mr Gordon said.

“I’m talking the Ivan Milat of currents. Just nasty and ugly as hell.”

Mr Gordon said he was “scared for my life” but told Ms Titor to remain calm while they attempted to navigate the swell.

“I was paddling like a frog on acid and felt an unbelievable pain in my legs and groin. Underneath the water the current was so strong. Layers of doom,” he said.

“At the worst point we were about two feet from the cliffs and the power of the water was intense. If we got sucked in to the wall where there are openings we wouldn’t have made it out alive.

“I’ve been out in surf at Teahupoʻo , Tahiti and Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa on some of its gnarliest days – but that day at Fingal was terrifying.”

Ms Titor says she is forever grateful for the brave actions of Mr Gordon on the day. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The pair made it back to shore after an arduous 20 minutes and Mr Gordon says he attributed the safe passage to an Indigenous man he spotted in the crowd looking down from the headland.

“Dreamtime is sacred Bundjalung land and not to sound trippy – but I kind of felt a protection over me,” he said.

Ms Titor said she thought she was a confident swimmer, having grown up swimming in rivers in Ukraine.

“It doesn’t matter how confident a swimmer you think you are. If the beach is un-patrolled – forget about it,” she said.

Ms Titor now hesitates to enter the ocean, saying the event had left her “traumatised and fearful”.

Mr Gordon suffered from insomnia after the rescue, and has become more hesitant about entering the surf on bigger days.

The Governor-General has announced 50 Australian Bravery Decorations to recognise the courageous acts of 89 ordinary Australians who when “confronted with danger, each chose to help someone”.