Heroic nine-year-old saves lives of two women struggling to swim at SA beach

“He’s saved a life and he’s used his surf skills to help the public which is awesome,” said lifesaver Tom. 

Harley noticed two women struggling to keep their head above water. Source: 7News, iStock

Nine-year-old Harley was playing on the sand of a South Australia beach with his family on Tuesday night when he spotted something unusual. 

It was 7pm, and the 9yo was swimming in the waters of Moana Beach with his family when he saw two women struggling under the waves. 

Without a second thought, the child jumped into action.

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Harley noticed two women struggling to keep their head above water. Source: 7News, iStock

Heroic 9yo helps rescue drowning mother and daughter

Harley himself is a young Nipper, trained to recognise when someone is in distress. 

He alerted his parents about the women in trouble, who were roughly 400 metres away from the shore and running out of time. 

His parents rushed to the lifesavers nearby, brothers Tom and Michael, who rushed to grab their boards and paddled out to the women.

In the water were a mother and daughter, barely able to keep their heads above the water.

“The mother was sort of, pretty much going under and her head was under,” lifesaver Michael told 7News. 

“The daughter was holding the mum up, just trying to keep her head above water I guess, so she’s gasping for air.”

The seasoned lifeguards each dragged the women onto their paddle boards, the 47yo woman and a 17yo in safe hands once again. 

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The 9yo has been hailed a hero. Source: 7News

Dramatic ocean rescue “could have resulted in a fatality”

By the time the lifesavers returned to solid land, the two women were in a state of shock, the 17yo “in tears” shortly followed by the 47yo, who started bawling her eyes out. 

Shortly after the dramatic rescue, the mother was taken to Flinders Medical Centre for medical assessment; her daughter required no medical assistance.  

The medical staff praised 9yo Harley for his quick thinking and sharp eyes. 

“It’s very possible that this could have resulted in a fatality,” said Sean Faulkner, emergency operations manager at Surf Life Saving South Australia.

That sentiment was backed up by lifesavers Tom and Michael, who said one more minute in the water could have resulted in both women losing their lives.

“He’s saved a life and he’s used his surf skills to help the public which is awesome,” Tom said of Harley. 

Originally published as Heroic nine-year-old saves lives of two women struggling to swim at SA beach