Tamarama surf life savers rescue family while recovering from race win at Aussies 2022 championship
They were supposed to be celebrating winning an Australian crown - instead these fast-reacting surf life savers were involved in a dramatic rescue of a father and daughter.
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A Sydney surf life saver said he has “never been more thankful’’ to be in the right place at the right time after he and a mate helped save a father and daughter while doing a warm down swim after winning his first gold medal at the Australian life saving championships on the Gold Coast.
Gerard Robb and Tamarama clubmate Roger Moresi had just jumped in the water to cool off from beach racing when they heard “shrieking’’ from the water.
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A father and daughter had lost their feet and were fighting to keep their heads above water with their screams alerting the life savers to the drama at play around 150m from shore.
While Moresi, 55, a flight attendant for Qantas, raced off to raise the alarm, Robb swam out to assist with the father who urged him to take his daughter back to shore first.
He then returned to rescue the father, who hails from Warwick, while Moresi and others accessed the patients who were treated by medical staff from the Australian titles and later cleared of serious injury.
“I did notice the rips were quite strong,’’ Robb said late on Tuesday.
“It was lucky we were there. I'm glad we did what we are trained to do and we able to save lives.’’
Robb, 45, who runs an e commerce business and has a background in cross country running, only refreshed his bronze medallion with Tamarama last year after living and racing in Japan for years.
“I was on a real adrenaline high after winning my first gold medal. I’ve never been so thankful I was in a position to help. I am so relieved they are OK,’’ Robb said.
“This is what we are here for. We were just in the right place at the right time,’’ said Moresi.
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