Last summer, there were many people just like you, enjoying a summer’s day at Avoca Beach on the New South Wales Central Coast. On Saturday 15 January 2022, at the peak of summer, Peter and Brett, two long-serving volunteer surf lifesavers were on patrol, along with a number of other volunteers from their surf lifesaving club.

As the afternoon wore on, it was getting close to the end of their patrolling time. Rather than preparing to pack up, Peter, Brett and their fellow patrol members found themselves gearing up for what would become a mass rescue.

Initially, Brett thought two or three people had been sucked off the sandbank in the middle of the flags and required rescuing.

“It was low tide, so it was going to be too hard to drag the Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) out over the sandbank,” Brett said.

The Rescue Water Craft was already being used to perform a rescue further down the beach, so Brett and another volunteer, along with a former champion board paddler from the club, paddled out to rescue the individuals in trouble.

When they reached them, there were four people in need of assistance. Brett looked over to find another man with his face barely out of the water being kept afloat by a member of the public. Straight away he became the priority and Brett went to his assistance.

“I had to basically treat it as an unconscious patient pick up. I flipped the board over, got him on the board and then started waving for assistance and it basically went pear shaped from there,” Brett said.

The number of people in need of rescuing was multiplying before their very eyes.

They now had five swimmers they were trying to keep afloat, as more people continued to be swept off the sandbank. The waves were so big and there was so much water movement that it was hard to tell how many more people were in danger.

“I was thinking, ‘how do we get to all the people out there?’ There was a lot of commotion, and it wasn’t the first rescue of the day. It was logistically very difficult because there were so many people,” Peter said.

These circumstances are not uncommon, and with record numbers of beachgoers expected this summer now that domestic and international borders are open again, we fear this kind of mass rescue situation could become even more common on busy beaches.

The best way to help combat this is to have volunteer surf lifesavers present on patrolled beaches and equipped with the rescue gear they need when someone’s life depends on it.

That day on Avoca Beach saw every single member of the volunteer patrol involved in this mass rescue, including off-duty surf lifesavers who happened to be at the beach. Everyone did their bit to make sure no lives were lost that day.

Peter and a fellow volunteer were able to launch the IRB, while other off-duty members grabbed boards to paddle out to other stranded swimmers.

Thanks to the great skill of the surf lifesavers involved and having the right equipment there when they needed it, fourteen people had their lives saved and were able to go home to their families that day. If the surf lifesavers hadn’t been there, this very well could have been a mass tragedy.

“It was a true testimony to the team and the other guys that weren’t on patrol. They were fantastic and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them,” Peter said.

Our beaches are world-class, iconic destinations, so I’m sure you can imagine that they are going to be teeming with visitors and locals alike this summer. Not everyone is aware of the dangers the ocean can present and their limitations in the water. That’s why we would so appreciate your support so that our volunteers have the resources available to keep people safer on our beaches. No one’s day at the beach should end in tragedy.

During this mass rescue, one of the surf lifesaver’s radios fell into the water and now needs to be replaced. Handheld radios are vital for communicating with the ambulance service, police, SurfCom and other patrol members. Costing approximately $850, this highlights one of the many common equipment needs surf lifesaving clubs have.

“You don’t do it for the recognition, but it is nice to know that you get a pat on the back because often times you do a rescue and they just walk off,” Brett commented.

Always modest about their efforts, both Brett and Peter shrugged off any notion of being labelled ‘heroes’.

“I’m just glad that everyone is safe, and we got out of there alive,” Peter said.

“I’ve just done what I’ve been trained for and what I love, and the fact that I can go home and know that I’ve been able to let someone else go home because of the skillset that I’ve been gifted through Surf Life Saving, that’s enough for me,” Brett said.

Brett, Peter and the rest of the patrol stayed back later than their designated patrol time that day as they were so concerned about more people getting into trouble and wanted to make sure everyone went home safely.

While they may not wish to big-note themselves, I know you appreciate what an invaluable contribution our volunteers make to the community, <<Salutation>>. Your past support has helped those surf lifesavers to return countless people home to their families, and for that, I cannot thank you enough.

“When you donate, I look at it as you are kind of on the beach as well. When I give my time and do patrol, that’s me giving back to the community. I think when you give money, you’re actually helping to save lives at the same time. You’re there on the beach with us. I don’t look at it as any different to being on patrol. It’s just another way to contribute,” Peter said.

This summer let’s all do our part to keep our community safer, both on and off the beach. As we head back to the beach, please remember to swim at a patrolled location between the red and yellow flags. If you are in a position to donate, every bit really does count, and no amount is too small.

To donate head to https://slsfoundation.com.au/campaign/mission-zero