Surf Life Saving Qld summer ambassador braves water to be winched to safety for demonstration

Just over a year ago, this woman wouldn’t have dreamt of getting back in the ocean. Yesterday, she voluntarily took herself out past the breaks before becoming a swimmer in ‘distress.’

Surfers paradise SLSC member Jules Grana (mock patient).Other crew members L-R Luke Nicholas and Warren Peters. Picture Mike Batterham

Just over a year ago, Juliana Grana would not have ever dreamt of getting back in the ocean.

But yesterday, she voluntarily took herself out past the breaks pretending to be a swimmer in distress so her Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club could demonstrate to onlookers how a helicopter rescue worked.

“I had a trauma in my early 20s, when I was surfing with my brother and I got stuck in a big swell. I just got smashed in the break and I said I was never going to go back in the surf … I was so scared.”

Pictured on Surfers Paradise beach during Helicopter winch rescue training session, Surfers paradise SLSC member Ms Grana (mock patient). Picture Mike Batterham

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Luckily a move to the Gold Coast eight years ago and a sponsorship through the surf club, where she now works as a bistro manager, meant Ms Grana would face her fears head on, finally becoming a surf life saver in 2017.

In the mock exercise, Ms Grana was winched to safety by the crew in a demonstration to onlookers and Nippers at Surfers Paradise beach.

Onlookers watch the ‘drama’ unfolding. Picture Mike Batterham

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Brazilian-born Ms Grana, 36, said she had recently completed her Bronze Medallion after months of swimming lessons to get her strong enough to pass it.

“I wanted to get my surf lifesaving certificate but couldn’t pass the swimming test, so I got a swimming coach and did swimming lessons,” she said.

She also signed up to become the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club summer ambassador so she could help to educate others about Surf Life Saving Queensland, career opportunities and the surf she was once so afraid of.