Off-duty lifeguards rescue woman sucked out to sea from Bronte Beach

THIS is the moment a woman was rescued from 4.5-metre swells after being sucked out to sea at Bronte Beach this morning. The 30-year-old got into trouble in a rock pool popular with swimmers that is deadly in rough conditions.

THIS is the moment a woman was rescued from 4.5-metre swells after being sucked out to sea at Bronte Beach this morning.

The 30-year-old got into trouble in the bogey hole — a rock pool popular with swimmers that is deadly in rough conditions.

A woman is rescued after being caught in a rip at Bronte Beach Picture: Jenny Evans

Lifeguard Andrew Reid had just clocked on for the morning when personal trainer Troy Stewart ran over from a class and yelled someone was caught in a rip.

“I had said gee, if somebody gets into trouble today we’ve got our work cut out for us,” Mr Reid said.

“Then literally Troy yells out and goes ‘Reidy, someone’s out the back of the bogey hole’.”

Rushing out, Mr Stewart — a champion swimmer who has competed as an ironman — reached her first.

The 30-year-old got into trouble in a rock pool. Picture: Jenny Evans

The woman was rescued by Bronte lifesavers. Picture: Jenny Evans

“It’s not usually so dangerous, but when there’s big waves and water is rushing out you get a flash rip within the bogey hole,” Mr Stewart said.

“Whatever is in there gets sucked out.

“It was dangerous conditions, but I surf out there and I knew what I was in for. She went under a few times — a bit longer than you’d want — that’s why I went in quickly rather than hanging around. I got to her and held her up until the boys came.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a surf warning as massive waves continue to hit the NSW coast. Picture: Jenny Evans

The hazardous conditions are expected to render many coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming too dangerous. Picture: Jenny Evans

The woman had swallowed lots of water. Picture: Jenny Evans

“This situation was unique. It was probably a bit silly for anyone to be in the water. It can be deceiving. The bogey hole can be flat but then big waves can come and a big flash rip and all of a sudden it’s a dangerous place to be. I don’t blame her for being deceived.”

Mr Stewart held up the distraught woman until others arrived, including lifeguard Wally Eggleton and Anthony Carroll, who had been teaching pilates in the surf club.

They brought her in before Mr Reid picked her up out of the ocean.

She was cold and vomiting water. Picture: Jenny Evans

She was taken by road to Prince of Wales Hospital. Picture: Jenny Evans

“She was cold, vomiting water and really not well,” Mr Reid said.

“She was really cold, so I said we’ve got to get her somewhere warm. I picked her up — I saw her get hit by three to five 15-foot waves — she got smashed. I was worried we would lose her and never see her again.”

The woman had swallowed lots of water and suffered a laceration to her foot. She was taken by road to Prince of Wales Hospital.

The woman had swallowed lots of water and suffered a laceration to her foot. Picture: Jenny Evans

Mr Reid said it was important for swimmers to never enter the surf in rough conditions and when lifeguards are not on duty.

“As lifeguards, we, like her, love the ocean,” Mr Reid said.

“And we feel for her. But you’ve also got to look at the conditions every day and know that the ocean can sometimes win. Sometimes the ocean is that little bit stronger than you. It’s dangerous.

“No flags, no swim — that’s the golden rule.”

Mr Stewart said they were not heroes and he resumed his personal training lesson after the rescue.

“I had to get back to work. I had a shower and had someone waiting.”