Life saving teenagers honoured for heroic acts

They’re too young to drive and won’t vote for years but it hasn’t stopped these kids from having a huge impact on the lives of others. Meet the seven young people who have been honoured for their heroic acts.

They’re too young to drive and won’t vote for years but it hasn’t stopped these kids from having a huge impact on the lives of others.

A group of summertime heroes has been hailed for their quick thinking after a series of near-misses at some of Victoria’s most popular beaches.

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Life Saving Victoria has celebrated the actions of seven young people after they used their intuition and skills to avoid tragedy.

They include an 11-year-old girl who saved the lives of two children, aged 5 and 7, after they disappeared under the water, and two 12-year-old boys who swam to the aid of an elderly surfer caught in a rip.

Life Saving Victoria president Paul James said the efforts of the young recruits embodied the spirit of life saving by helping others in need.

“It is a testament to the quality of training at surf life saving and life saving clubs around the state that these young people were able to act in such a proficient manner,” Mr James said.

“Many of these young heroes are not yet old enough to be volunteer life savers, but their efforts ­demonstrate considerable ability and bravery.”

The heroic acts follow another ­difficult season for surf life savers with 22 drownings between December and February — 10 more than the five-year average.

Georgia had been participating in a nippers’ swim, run and board circuit when she notice the girls floundering near a marker. Picture: David Caird

GEORGIA ADAMS

Altona Life Saving Club

When two girls aged just five and seven swam beyond their depth, Georgia Adams, 11, knew something wasn’t right.

Only seconds after the duo said they were OK, both disappeared beneath the surface.

Georgia (below) had been participating in a nippers’ swim, run and board circuit when she noticed the girls floundering near a marker.

“As I paddled past I asked if they were OK,” Georgia said.

“They said they were but when I turned back they had both disappeared. The five-year-old’s hand was sticking out of the water so I paddled back and pulled her on to the board.

“I’m still not very good at paddling with somebody else on the board so I jumped into the water and paddled her back on the board with the seven-year-old beside me.”

Dad Sean said it was a proud moment.

“It’s just so good to see the lifesaving message translating into real-life skills,” he said.

But he was frustrated with the two girls’ parents who were oblivious to what had happened.

“They weren’t even looking, they didn’t say thank you,” he said. “They just said the girls could swim and then packed up and left.”

Georgia was thankful her lifesaving training had paid off.

“Sometimes I get ignored by people, but this helped me realise I am good enough and I can achieve things.”

BRYDIE LOGAN and NICK FRISBY

Williamstown Swimming & Life Saving Club

Brydie, 15, and Nick, 16, were training when they noticed a woman swimming alone more than 200m from shore.

“She seemed quite far out and it was overcast and not a good day for swimming, so I asked my coach if we could paddle out and offer her assistance,” Brydie said.

The teenager said when they got to the woman she appeared to be very cold but insisted she didn’t need help.

“We stayed with her and slowly paddled back in until she actually asked for some assistance and grabbed on to the board,” Brydie said.

“She said kept telling me she had had a bad day and was trying to clear her head.”

The pair have since been credited for spotting the signs and potentially averting tragedy.

“Obviously we are there to save lives … so yeah, maybe it was our training and initiative that prompted us to say something.”

Victoria’s top junior lifesavers who saved lives this summer. Picture: David Caird

Life Saving Victoria has celebrated the actions of seven young people after they used their intuition and skills to avoid tragedy. Picture: David Caird

KYAN GERVASONI and JACK OTTER

Nippers Kyan and Jack, both 12, had just learned a vital surf life saving skill when they had to put it into practise in a real-life scenario.

When the juniors saw an man, ­believed to be in his mid-60s, struggling in a rip off Torquay beach, they swung into action.

“Jack saw him and we both paddled over and asked him if he needed help,” Kyan said.

Jack took the man’s bodyboard and Kyan got him to swing up and on to his board — a difficult manoeuvre they had only just learned.

The pair then had to get back to shore — Jack swimming diagonally to keep the trio straight as the wind pushed them down the beach.

“If Jack wasn’t there, it would have been so hard but we were able to do it together.”

WILLIAM SNELLING and DIBDIN FITGERALD

Williamstown Swimming & Life Saving Club

William Snelling, 16, brother Xavier and Dibdin Fitzgerald, both 14, were heading to a popular surf break at Lorne when they saw two men in trouble.

“Me and my brother were going for a surf when we noticed the two guys getting taken by a rip formed by the heavy crashing waves. We paddled to the elderly guy who was almost going under water. He grabbed my board and laid on it straight away.” They signalled for a rescue boat, which returned them to safety.

“They were both very thankful,” William said. “We took them to the first aid room to recover. They told us they probably would not have made it out if it weren’t for what we did.”

But he said responding to people in danger was almost in their blood having been part of the surf life saving clubs since they were much younger.

“If somebody is in trouble, you’re always going to help them,” William said