Dramatic after-hours rescue at Moana Beach.
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“Just another 60 seconds in the water and it could have ended in tragedy.”
Michael Knauer, Moana Beach SLSC, South Australia
Just 60 seconds.
That’s how long the difference between life and death could have been for a mother, Erin*, and her daughter, Molly*, who found themselves in trouble, desperately struggling to stay afloat, almost 400 metres offshore at Moana Beach last summer.
Volunteer surf lifesavers, Michael Knauer and his brother Tom, were training at the Moana Beach Surf Life Saving Club gym, when a young nipper raised the alarm after he spotted what he thought was a single swimmer in distress out in the ocean just after 7pm. Immediately, the brothers leapt to action knowing just seconds could be the difference between life and death.
At first, they couldn’t see the swimmers through the inclement conditions, but finally they came into view almost 400 metres offshore.
“Once we spotted the two, I just looked at my brother Tom - “we’ve just got to go!” I said, and we just went for it,” Michael recounted.
Knowing that mere seconds would count, they grabbed rescue boards from the club and paddled out as quickly as they could, searching for the swimmers in the choppy conditions as they battled against the howling offshore wind.
“The mother was pretty much going under, and her daughter was trying to hold her mother’s head above water,” Michael said, recounting the terrifying situation the pair of swimmers were in when the brothers located them.
Michael said the 17-year-old girl and her 55-year-old mother were clearly exhausted when they reached them.
“I think if we had been another minute or so, she would have been under,” he said.
Michael said it was extremely challenging getting the mother on his board, and once both swimmers were safely on his and Tom’s boards, they paddled the pair back against the tough headwind which Michael said was also hard work, especially after they had raced straight out from the gym.
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Once back on shore, the ambulance was waiting and assessed the swimmers, with the mother taken to hospital suspected to have taken on some water.
The brothers had just saved two precious lives, but for Michael, running on adrenaline from the rescue, it wasn’t until a couple of hours later when he was at home and had started to get messages from other club members who were there at the time, that the realisation struck him that he and his brother had just saved one, if not possibly two, lives from almost certain tragedy.
“I was just glad we could be down there at that time. It was just lucky the nipper spotted them and such critical timing. I don’t think it would have been much longer before they went under as they were both knackered.
“Because we spend so much time at the club training, we’re ready for when something like this happens. I’ve done nippers since I was in under-9s, and Tom would have been in under-8s. We did all our nippers up to under-14s and then from the age of 15 – 28 years, we’ve trained on boards and skis and now boats which helped us with this rescue. We’ve spent 20-years patrolling,” Michael said.
He also commends the nipper and his part in the rescue, saying, “he recognised that they were in trouble. To see him using the surf skills he’s learning in nippers and then putting them into action, it’s just unreal.”
This rescue serves as a reminder of just how unpredictable the ocean can be, with the pair of swimmers believed to have been pulled offshore in the fierce winds losing the depth of the beach and unable to swim back in the inclement conditions.
“Always watch your surroundings,” Michael said following the rescue. “Swim between the red and yellow flags and supervise your children. Enjoy the beach, it’s the best place in the world, but just always be aware of the conditions.”
Michael, Tom and the young nipper, are to be commended for their quick actions and dedicated care in recognising those in trouble and without hesitation, coming to the aid of those in their most desperate time of need.
Because without the swift intervention of all involved - from the young nipper who first raised the alarm, to the heroic brothers who raced out to save the women’s lives - this story would have had a much more tragic outcome, with a very real possibility that a family could have been left mourning the loss of two loved ones that evening.
Their actions that day at Moana Beach, are testament to how vitally important the Surf Life Saving movement and our heroic volunteer surf lifesavers are to safeguarding us and our loved ones when enjoying time at the beach.
Michael and Tom’s lifesaving training and access to rescue boards was vital to their ability to perform this rescue. Michael talked to us about how vital the generosity of our donors is to aiding his and other volunteer surf lifesavers lifesaving mission:
“Without funding, we can’t have new boards or any of the equipment and training that prepares you for that moment so we can perform rescues like this one. Without the ATVs, the 4-wheel drives, the inflatable rescue boats – it is vital to have this equipment to assist with rescues. Just having multiple boards there at the club ready to go so we could grab them and just race out – you need funding to be able to do that.”
The extensive training our volunteer surf lifesavers go through to ensure they are rescue ready and the purchase and maintenance of critical rescue equipment needed to support their lifesaving mission does come at a great cost.
To train a volunteer surf lifesaver to Bronze Medallion standard, costs at least $850. Then there are the costs involved with updating their training, learning new skills, and the significant cost of rescue equipment to support our volunteers to be able to perform rescues quickly and effectively.
To put all this in perspective, just one lifesaving patrol can cost up to $80,000. This Seasonal Appeal our critical target is $590,990.00; that represents over seven lifesaving patrols.
As a charity, we rely on the kindness of our generous donors to be our heroes behind the scenes, helping to support us so we can continue to provide vital lifesaving services and essential surf safety education needed to keep our Australian beaches and communities safer.
Please donate today and show your support for the Surf Life Saving movement and our heroic volunteer surf lifesavers like Michael and Tom, so we can continue to save precious lives and protect beachgoers while they enjoy our beautiful Aussie coastlines.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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Did you know?
Where does my money go? Can even a small donation help? Your questions answered.
The SLSF was established to support our unique not-for-profit community cause that exists through community donations, fundraising, corporate sponsorships and government grants.
With over 180,000 members and 315 affiliated Surf Life Saving Clubs, SLS represents the largest volunteer movement of its kind in Australia, and the world.
Every year millions of people visit our beaches, and thousands of these visitors find themselves in urgent need of a life saving rescue. This is what we are here for, to keep your family and friends safe in the water.
Your support today will ensure that millions of adults and children who visit the beach go home safely.
Did you know?
- It costs at least $850 to train a new volunteer to Bronze Medallion standard. Surf lifesavers are trained in First Aid, CPR and rescue techniques. Importantly, all of our lifesavers must continue to refresh and update their skills.
- Rescue gear and equipment are some of the largest costs associated with providing lifesaving services throughout Australia. A full life saving patrol can cost up to $80,000.
- Prevention is better than cure, and the best way to save lives at the beach is by teaching people how to stay out of danger. We run campaigns on how to spot rips and what to do if you are caught in one (swim parallel to the shore!).
No matter what area your donation goes towards, you can be sure that it will make a vital contribution to saving lives.
When we raise money for the Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund, this allows us to explore new initiatives, test new programs, and learn what works to accelerate lifesaving practices. Donors who give to our Fund understand that true innovation takes time and resources, that networks and connections are key levers for change, and that dollars invested in strengthening the sector and building capacity among all stakeholders will pay dividends down the road in the form of more effective lifesaving practices, more efficient funding streams, and amplified social impact.
The Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund enables you to target your donations to directly fund a specific project. The SLSF will provide progress updates to show how your donations are making a real difference to Innovation Fund projects.
Could you give regularly?
As well as training new volunteer surf lifesaver, your monthly donation helps repair and replace the equipment that constant exposure to the sun and sea can damage. As a Guardian of the Surf your monthly donation ensures that we are rescue-ready at a moment’s notice. You would be the silent hero behind every life saved.