Boomerang Beach: Father and son save Taree teenager during dramatic rescue

A father and son have saved a teenage girl from drowning during a dramatic rescue.

Max Arnold at Boomerang Beach

A Sydney father has recounted the moment he and his teenage son helped rescue a Taree teenager from a vicious rip while she was swimming at an unpatrolled beach near Forster.

Lachlan Arnold and his son, Max, were surfing and enjoying the sunshine at the southern end of Boomerang Beach last week when a teenage boy ran to their aid yelling ‘my girlfriend has been pulled out in a rip, can you help?’

When the boy pointed out his girlfriend, a 17-year-old known only as Bianca, Lachlan Arnold was shocked to see she was more than 150 metres from shore.

Max Arnold at Boomerang Beach

“We watched as he ran towards us, asking people if they could help as he made his way down the beach,” he said. “But no one he asked could help.”

Lachlan and Max were staying at a house just a 200 metres from where they were sitting on the beach.

Immediately, Max ran up to the house to grab a foam surfboard. A strong swimmer and surf lifesaver himself, Lachlan began to swim out towards the girl.

Max is just 16 years-old but has been involved with his local surf club since he was a six-year old Nipper and is a member of North Avalon Surfriders Association.

Completing his Bronze Medallion just a year ago, he has been actively patrolling at Avalon Beach, yet his deep understanding of the ocean and ability to act quickly under pressure is a tribute to himself, his club and his family.

Max Arnold at Boomerang Beach

Max had done an incredible job to sprint to get the board and complete the long paddle out so quickly to meet his dad. The pair were able to get the girl onto the board and Mr Arnold began paddling the girl back to shore while Max swam alongside.

“Max and I got to the girl at about the same time,” Mr Arnold said.

I was holding her up in the water and she was gone. She was probably 30 seconds from going under ... she was in the worst condition I’d ever seen anyone out in the water.”

“Miraculously, we caught this wave that took us all the way to the beach – it really was the magic wave and the most welcome one I’ve ever caught.”

Back on shore, the girl was completely exhausted. Max and Lachlan carried her up to the beach where they called an Ambulance.

Mr Arnold said Bianca told the pair ‘I didn’t think anyone was coming.’

“She could barely talk and she said to me when she got her breath back, that she felt like she was breathing water.”

The proud dad said he had complete confidence in his young son throughout the rescue effort.

“He knew exactly what to do and when to do it. He’s only 16 and he was just so calm and just having done his Bronze Medallion, it’s amazing.”

Lachlan said the surf life saving training and the family’s love of the ocean meant he wasn’t once worried for his son’s safety.

“Max paddled out on the board and the surf was rough, but I didn’t once think he couldn’t do it,” he said.

“I know he’s a strong swimmer and a good lifesaver. He’s done all the right training. I think it’s a really powerful thing that I was able to bring the girl in on the board and not have to worry about him still out there.”

Max Arnold at Boomerang Beach

A proud dad himself, Dave Roberts has been Max’s Nippers Age Manager since under 6s at Avalon Beach SLSC and has been part of his journey right through the surf club.

He said it was quite emotional and very humbling knowing the skills and knowledge he and fellow trainer Bernadette Mckay have imparted to Max have given a family back their daughter.

“It was amazing hearing about the successful rescue by Max and Lachie, we’re all very proud and got goosebumps hearing the story,” Mr Roberts said.

“Bernie and I realised all the hours and years we’ve put into developing these kids has paid off.

“When Max was a young kid he wasn’t that strong in the water, but years in Nippers with a group of now lifelong mates, he’s turned into a really strong waterman on all craft, just like his dad. He’s so competent out there and it’s no surprise he was able to handle this rescue like he did with maturity beyond his years.”

It also brought home to Lachlan with a thump, how easy it is for people to get into serious strife at unpatrolled locations.

“Along with there being no one around who had the skills to help, there was no access to a defibrillator or oxygen because the nearest surf club is a beach away to the north.

“You don’t have to go too far to realise that there is no one to help.”