Sydney swimmer Michael Green rescued by council lifeguards in near drowning at Greenmount Beach on Gold Coast

A Sydney swimmer who suffered an unexpected asthma attack when he was caught in a rip on the Gold Coast was sure his days were numbered – but he was scooped to safety in the nick of time.

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A SYDNEY swimmer who suffered an unexpected asthma attack when he was caught in a rip at Greenmount Beach was sure his time was up.

But Michael Green was snatched from death’s door by experienced Gold Coast City Council lifeguards Stacey Galbraith and Jens Spencer, who hauled him to shore in rough conditions.

Mr Green, a regular beachgoer, told his story to highlight the courageous actions of those who patrol our shores – and the importance of swimming between the flags.

Michael Green says he’s lucky to be alive. Picture: Jerad Williams

“It was January 11, in the afternoon. I’ve been up here on holidays on the Gold Coast since June from Sydney to ­escape COVID and I’ve been going to the beach most days,” he said.

“I had an asthma attack in the morning and went to the beach in the afternoon. Then I had another attack, which I wasn’t expecting.

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“There was a rip and it started to carry me out. Stupidly, instead of coming into the beach, I saw a sandbank pretty close. Thought I’d stand there for a minute until I caught my breath and that was pretty much it.”

The situation worsened as Mr Green struggled to breathe.

“I thought ‘s--t, I’m having an asthma attack’. I couldn’t feel the bottom,” he said.

“My mate came over and tried to hold me up, but I’m heavier than him and I was sinking. He said ‘get on your back’, but I couldn’t lift my legs up.

“They (the lifeguards) were there in seconds and they had to haul me on to a board.”

Mr Green, who was taken to shore and given oxygen, broke two ribs during the ­rescue, which he joked “may have actually helped me start breathing”.

“If they hadn’t pulled me out I’d have drowned for sure. I thought I was gone, that was it,” he said.

Michael Green speaks to his rescuers, council lifeguards Jens Spencer and Stacey Galbraith. Picture: Jerad Williams

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“I was very lucky they were on their toes.

“I’ve been going to the beaches up here for ­decades and this is the first time I’ve ever had an ­incident and I’ve been in rough water before.

“It was a big wake-up call. I know I’m not indestructible.

“I still go most days and most days people are still not swimming in the flags.”

Mr Green said he had just bought a house on the Coast and a car to get around.

“As I was going down I thought ‘I’ve just bought a house and a car and now I’m going to f--king drown, that’s great’,” he laughed.

Mr Green said his doctor advised him his asthma puffer did not work properly “because it was expired”.

Michael Green (centre) with lifeguards Jens Spencer and Stacey Galbraith at Greenmount Beach. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mayor Tom Tate sung the praises of the city’s lifeguard service, which works alongside Surf Life Saving Queensland to patrol Coast beaches.

“Our city is blessed to be supported by the largest professional lifeguard service in Australia,” he said.

“Every year, the men and women perform thousands of interventions and rescues along our coastline.

“The message today remains the same as it was in the 1950s – swim between the flags, listen to lifeguards and never swim at night or outside patrol hours.’’

Three people drowned at Coast beaches earlier this month – Broadbeach gym manager Jake Jacobs, 32, his female companion Julia Boika, 29, and a Victorian tourist, aged 34.

Follow @LukeWMortimer