South Curl Curl Warringah Council cleaners swam to aid of girl swept into rip

A MUM has said an emotional thank you to a pair of council workers who rescued her daughter after she was swept away by the tide.

A MUM has said an emotional thank you to a pair of council workers who rescued her daughter after she was swept away by the tide.

Essence Crothers To’o, 11, was one of three children dragged out by a rip at South Curl Curl.

Kieran Adshead and Steven Brookes, both from Narrabeen, were working at South Curl Curl ocean pool when they spotted the dangerous situation unfolding and jumped to action.

Kieran Adshead and Steven Brookes, both from Narrabeen, were working at South Curl Curl ocean pool

Now Essence’s mum has said an emotional thank you to the pair, while Warringah Council’s boss has also praised them.

Annette Crothers said Essence may have drowned if they hadn’t have helped.

Mrs Crothers said: “I don’t even know what to say. How can you even thank someone for bringing your daughter back? I can’t even imagine life without my daughter. She is the light of my life.”

Mrs Crothers was visiting with her daughter for netball trials from Liverpool in Sydney’s West.

They went to the beach with other netball players last Sunday night at around 6.30pm.

“I just want them to be recognised for the phenomenal human beings they are,” said Mrs Crothers.

And while she admits her daughter is not used to the surf, she was not very far away from shore.

“The tide was coming in I noticed, but they were pretty close — about 10m away,” she said. “It happened so quickly. One minute it was up to their hips, the next it was up to their chest.

“I shouted to my daughter to move, then I turned to one of the other mums and by the time I looked back she had been taken out about 20 metres.”

While two other children were also swept out, they were able to swim back but Essence was caught in a rip.

Mrs Crothers started to get into the water, when she saw Mr Adshead and Mr Brookes coming to help.

She said even then it took them a few attempts for the men to get back to shore with Essence through the strong currents.

And once they’d delivered her safely back to the beach, they went back to work.

“They just went above and beyond,” said Mrs Crothers.

“I just want them to be recognised for the phenomenal human beings they are.”

Mr Adshead, from Narrabeen said Essence did everything right — including putting her hand up to show she was in trouble.

“I don’t think we did anything that anyone else would do if they could,” he said.

“The mum came up and she was crying and gave us a hug.”

Warringah Council Manager Rick Hart, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of Kieran and Steve. They went above and beyond without any hesitation. This commitment and dedication exemplifies the outstanding staff employed at Warringah Council.”