Marine Rescue Jervis Bay volunteer Norm Stanley saves British tourist in Huskisson

A volunteer on the NSW south coast has gone above and beyond to save the life of a British tourist who was being swept out to sea.

Marine Rescue Jervis Bay volunteer Norm Stanley with the British tourist.

A Marine Rescue volunteer has gone above and beyond to save an international tourist on the NSW south coast, using an inflatable paddleboard from lost property.

Marine Rescue Jervis Bay volunteer Norm Stanley went out of his way to save the tourist visiting Huskisson from Britain, after a strong tide began dragging her out to sea.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said Mr Stanley was on radio operations duty with a fellow volunteer at the Marine Rescue Jervis Bay base on Tuesday afternoon, when he noticed a woman being swept into the bay by the strong outgoing tide just south of the Huskisson pool.

Mr Stanley ran downstairs at the base and grabbed the first floatable object he could find, which was an inflatable paddleboard from the unit’s lost property store.

“On an outgoing tide the water flows incredibly fast out of Currambene Creek, in certain conditions these waters can be quite dangerous,” Mr Massey said.

Mr Stanley ran around to the beach with the inflatable paddleboard and headed into the water along with a member of the public who also noticed the woman being swept away.

Mr Stanley – along with the member of the public – reached the British tourist and returned her to shore on the inflatable lost and found board.

Marine Rescue Jervis Bay.

Mr Massey said the volunteer assessed the woman’s condition before returning to his post in the Marine Rescue Jervis Bay radio room.

“The rescued woman was very thankful, she was uninjured but a little shaken and we must commend the member of the public who also assisted,” he said.

“Norm and the member of the public’s actions are nothing short of heroic and the community is fortunate to have people like them living among them, the woman was very lucky.”

Marine Rescue Jervis Bay volunteer Norm Stanley in the control room.

Inspector Massey said Mr Stanley’s presence of mind to grab the inflatable paddleboard was “exceptional”.

“To respond so quickly and rescue the woman along with assistance from the other man shows how selfless and caring he is, we are very proud to have him part of the Marine Rescue Jervis Bay family,” he said.

“While most of our rescues involve our vessel crew assisting boaters on the water, this was a unique situation that required an immediate response with a life at risk.

“If Norm had not reacted as quickly as he did, this situation may have had a different outcome.”

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Originally published as Marine Rescue Jervis Bay volunteer Norm Stanley saves British tourist in Huskisson