“We got out there and the car was still floating but sinking fast. We were frantically trying to get those kids out before the car went under.” Brad Marsden, Volunteer Surf Lifesaver, Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club.
It is not only on the beach that our volunteer surf lifesavers make a significant impact. From assisting during natural disasters such as fires and floods when called upon, to reacting on instinct to assist in emergencies when going about their everyday life, our volunteer surf lifesavers are trained and ready to come to our aid in our communities too.
It was a Saturday afternoon in February, and Brad Marsden from Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club, was driving south with his daughter. As they drove around Boyds Bay, Brad saw one car hit another, sending it careening off the road and into the water.
Without hesitation, Brad’s training and instinct kicked in. He pulled up and asked onlookers to ring triple zero, before jumping straight into the water alongside other passers-by who had stopped to help.
“We got out there and the car was still floating, but sinking fast,” Brad said recalling the urgency of the situation.
“The father who was in the driver’s seat managed to get out. The mother was still in the passenger seat and there were two children trapped in the back.
“We were frantically trying to get those kids out before the car went under. We couldn’t break the glass, but eventually we got the door open,” Brad said recounting the terrifying life or death situation that was taking place as the seconds ticked by and the car became further submerged in the water.
“At that stage, I had to dive down and try to find the seatbelt underwater. I couldn’t find it on my first go. I had to come up and take another breath, and head back down again.
“Finally, I got the seatbelt off the girl and dragged her out of the back seat, but she got stuck. I had to go up again and take another breath and dive back down,” Brad recounted of the multiple attempts it took to save the child’s precious life.
“Finally, on the third go, I got her out of the back seat and above water. The other guys had thankfully got the child and mother out of the other side of the car, as it was completely underwater by that stage,” Brad said.
Brad and the other rescuers brought everybody safely to shore, where emergency services were waiting to attend to the patients.
Without Brad and the other rescuers reacting in an instant to this desperate life or death situation, the outcome for this family would have likely been a tragic one. Precious lives lost in a truly horrific and heartbreaking way.
A volunteer surf lifesaver for 30 years, Brad said his extensive lifesaving training was invaluable to ensuring he was able to perform this rescue quickly and confidently, acting fast but making the right decisions in such a perilous situation.
“I didn't hesitate to go in,” he said, recalling how he reacted on instinct, testament to the training volunteer surf lifesavers go through to ensure they have the capability to react in a second’s notice.
“And when I got out there it was important to work with the others in the water to make sure we all were doing the right thing. It was a matter of keeping calm and just going through the right steps.
“I knew I had to get to the seatbelts once the door was open. That was the first thing, diving down and thinking clearly while I was underwater. It was imperative that we moved quickly, but it was vital we kept thinking clearly and ensured we did everything in the right order while the car was sinking, because people were going to go under with it, and they were trapped.
“There were challenges too. The door wouldn’t open initially, and we could see the car was going to go under quickly and it was very frightening to see the children in the back and not be able to get them at first. It was a very scary situation to be in. But, in these situations, you must remain calm.
“Once we got them out of the car, there was just this massive relief. Getting the family to shore and seeing the emergency services were there, that was also just a massive relief. You feel the adrenaline pumping for quite a while after that!
“But to actually know they were safe, that was very satisfying, very rewarding for me,” Brad said.
That is the reward for volunteer surf lifesavers like Brad. Knowing their skills and training have helped save precious lives and that they have made a lifesaving impact on what was close to being a tragic situation for this family.
“I love being a volunteer surf lifesaver,” Brad said. “I love the beach lifestyle, the camaraderie and the clubs, the variety of things you do and the training. I highly encourage everyone to get involved with Surf Life Saving.
Brad is also appreciative of the kindness of donors who ensure he, and other volunteer surf lifesavers, can continue to save lives on the beach and out in the community.
“We appreciate all the fundraising and donation efforts. It’s such a great community cause to donate to, all of us are there for the cause, and it’s a great part of Australian life.
“It’s also an association that trains young people. People are learning skills and applying them on the beach and out in the community. Volunteer surf lifesavers are doing something really positive for our communities and it’s lifelong.
“As a volunteer surf lifesaver, you never know when you are going to need to use your skills,” Brad said explaining how his extensive training translates to emergencies away from the beach.
“In relation to the rescue of the family in the submerged car, skills like going out into the water to rescue someone, resuscitation, working with others to coordinate a rescue, making fast decisions under pressure, keeping calm in a life or death situation - I have all these great skills I’ve learnt over many years as a volunteer surf lifesaver, and they were instrumental in helping me on that Saturday afternoon at Boyds Bay.
“I completed my Bronze Medallion many years ago, and every year I update that, and practice rescues when I’m on patrols. I come to board training a few times a week to make sure I'm fit enough to always be able to go out in bigger surf, and I make sure I’m proficient in advanced resuscitation. We learn so many skills as volunteer surf lifesavers, and we make sure we keep updating these,” Brad said.
Brad and other volunteer surf lifesavers on the frontline are essential to saving lives on our beaches and in our communities, and our supporters are also an essential part of our lifesaving mission too.