Katherine Smith: Swimmer who ‘died’ at Manly Beach given chance to thank her rescuers

An early winter swim almost turned to tragedy when a woman ‘died’ off a Sydney beach. See what she told the multiple people who helped saved her life.

Katherine Smith (centre), of Kurraba Point, on Tuesday, with members of the public and NSW Ambulance paramedics who combined to save her life after she stopped breathing while on an early morning swim to Shelly Beach. Left to right: Husband Stuart Smith, son Saxon, Frances Russell, Neutral Bay, Gary Russell, Neutral Bay, David Livermore, North Sydney, Edwina Harrison, Manly Vale, Dr Kate Schofield, Pymble, Gary Ingle, Balgowlah Heights and Melissa Pye, Neutral Bay with Ambulance paramedics Paul, Brodie, Locky, Christian and Max. Picture: NSW Ambulance

A woman who “died” and needed CPR while on an early Saturday morning swim off the northern beaches six weeks ago has been given the chance to thank the people who saved her life.

Katherine Smith was not expected to survive when she was pulled onto the sand, by other swimmers and a complete stranger, with no pulse after suffering a medical episode just past the breakers.

She had been with a group of swimmers known as the “Drinks Express”, part of Manly’s popular Bold & Beautiful swim group, which set out for Shelly Beach at 6.30am on July 29.

Ms Smith, from Kurraba Point, who swam from Manly Beach twice a week and has asthma, was just minutes into the swim when she started to experience great difficulty breathing.

Katherine Smith (centre), of Kurraba Point, reunited on Tuesday, with Melissa Pye, of Neutral Bay, and Peter Ingle, of Balgowlah Heights, who helped rescue her from the water off Manly Beach, on July 29. Picture: NSW Ambulance

In the first stroke of luck in a chain of events that led her to a hospital intensive care unit, she was swimming alongside another strong swimmer, Simone Salier, who knew immediately that something was wrong.

Simone shouted for help and Melissa Pye, from Neutral Bay, quickly swam over and saw that Ms Smith’s lips were already turning blue and she was struggling to take a breath. She was calling for her Ventolin medication, in her bag on the beach.

“It looked like she was gasping for air,” Ms Pye said. “I flipped her onto her back and we held her up and I started kicking in to the beach with her.

Katherine Smith (left), of Kurraba Poi and Melissa Pye embrace on Tuesday at Manly Beach, first time they had seen each other since the rescue. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

“Her face was getting bluer and her head flipped back and I thought ‘oh my God, she’s unconscious’.”

Ms Pye, then shouted for help from Peter Ingle, of Balgowlah Heights, who was training nearby on a race board.

He paddled over and Ms Pye said Ms Smith she needed her Ventolin, but moments later she stopped breathing.

With the help of Ms Pye and Bianca Austin, Ms Smith was bundled onto the race board and Mr Ingle paddled toward Manly Beach with one arm, while holding on to Ms Smith with the other. When they were able to stand, with the help of others, Ms Smith was carried to the beach.

Katherine Smith (centre), of Kurraba Point, with her son Saxon, 20, and husband Stuart, while she thanked the members of the public and NSW Ambulance paramedics who combined to save her life. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Mr Ingle blew a breath into her mouth and stated chest compressions while others raced to bring back oxygen and a defibrillator.

Five people took it in turn to do CPR on Ms Smith before NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived, including Anthony ‘Chugga’ Vieceli and doctors Kate Schofield and Alistair Boyce, who were luckily nearby.

Dr Boyce helped clear her airways.

“There was foam coming from her mouth and her eyes had rolled back,” Mr Ingle said. “We could not feel a breath or get a pulse.”

Paramedics from the Balgowlah and Belrose ambulance stations, along with an inspector, Christian Holmes, from Artarmon, arrived soon after.

They took over CPR and used an automatic chest compression device in an effort to get Ms Smith’s heart restarted.

Manly's Bold and Beautiful swimming squad going out for their early morning winter swim. Picture: Annika Enderborg

Insp. Holmes said she was revived in an ambulance and began breathing on her own on the way to Royal North Shore Hospital, under police escort. She was placed in an induced coma and treated in the ICU.

She also ended up with all but two ribs broken as a result of the chest compressions.

He praised the work of the public for helping save her life.

“Their actions made our actions possible.

“It was their CPR that made the difference.

“We just put the icing on the cake.”

Insp. Holmes urged anyone in a similar situation to have a go at CPR, even if they had not been formally trained because it could save a life.

Katherine Smith (centre), of Kurraba Point, on Tuesday, with NSW Ambulance paramedics, left to right, Brodie, Paul, Locky, Christian and Max, who helped save her life after she stopped breathing while on an early morning swim from Manly to Shelly Beach. Picture: NSW Ambulance

Ms Smith said she had been a bit unsure about “what to say to people who saved your life”.

“There are no words to describe the heartfelt gratitude owed to you all and my family,” she told them.

“No one gave up, that’s why I’m still here.

“I’m truly grateful to live in a country where so many resources were put into my care, with such incredible skill, commitment and professionalism when the chances of my survival were almost zero.”

Ms Smith said she planned to “pay it forward” and gave a commitment to help anyone whose life was at risk.

“If I’m ever in that situation I’ll do my best, just like these people did.”

She plans to return to ocean swimming once her full fitness returns.