Layla Pretorius, 11, saves teen at Williamstown beach on Melbourne Cup Day
A teenager is lucky to be alive after he was pulled from the surf at Williamstown beach. His unlikely saviour — an 11-year-old girl — now has a safety message for Melburnians.
West
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A teenage boy was pulled from the surf at Williamstown beach in a dramatic rescue by an 11-year-old girl on Melbourne Cup Day.
Layla Pretorius, a Nipper at Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club, said she spotted the boy, believed to be aged between 13 and 15, thrashing around in the waves after falling out of his kayak about 12.30pm on Tuesday.
Layla’s dad, Johan, said the boy’s mother was “hysterical” as she watched her son struggle from the sand, and Layla, after seeing the boy and his mother’s distress, sprung into action.
“A little kid went past on a kayak and got caught by the wind … and he must have fallen out and couldn’t get back in,” Mr Pretorius said.
“The mum got a bit hysterical and my daughter paddled out to him and towed him in.
“When she was paddling back she had the biggest grin on her face. She was so proud of herself.”
Melburnians flocked to the beach on Tuesday as the temperature soared to 30 degrees, making it the hottest Melbourne Cup holiday in five years.
Fifty-six people drowned in the state’s waterways in the 2018/19 financial year — the worst death toll in two decades.
Life Saving Victoria’s latest drowning report for the 2019/20 financial year is yet to be released.
Mr Pretorius said the beach was “packed” and a strong north wind dragged a few people into deep water.
He said he watched as a fishing boat helped a small group who also got into trouble offshore at Williamstown yesterday, and he said it was disappointing life savers weren’t on duty.
“I’ve never seen Williamstown beach so packed as it was yesterday,” Mr Pretorius said.
“There was so many people that got into trouble.”
A LSV spokesperson said beach patrols would start on November 14 and coastal patrols would resume later in the month based on Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s advice.
Life saving volunteers conducted about a dozen rescues over the long weekend, the spokesperson said, and they warned beachgoers to check weather conditions before heading out and to keep a close eye on children.
“With warmer weather predicted again this weekend, our advice to all Victorians heading out onto the water is to pay it safe,” the spokesperson said.
Layla said her dream job was to one day work as a professional life saver.
Her favourite show was Bondi Rescue, she said, and after making her first ever rescue she said she hoped people would stay safe around the state’s waterways.
”Put (your) hand up so lifesavers can come and help,” Layla said.
“Watch the wind and try not to get dragged out.”
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