A surfer who was seen floating in the water at the unpatrolled Dreamtime Beach at Fingal Head before 9am Monday was brought ashore by members of the public who conducted CPR until paramedics and lifesavers arrived.
About 8:43am on the 9th of September 2019, the Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre was advised that there had been a possible drowning at Dreamtime Beach, Fingal Head.
Duty Officers from the Far North Coast Branch and lifeguards from the Australian Lifeguard Service were soon on scene and assisted with the resuscitation attempts.
Members of the public spotted the man floating face down and still attached by leg rope to his surfboard. One person grabbed a nearby Angel Ring stationed on the beach and swam out to bring the man ashore while another called Triple Zero for help. The surfer is believed to be in his mid-20s and was surfing alone.
State Duty Officer Jimmy Keough praised the efforts of the rescuers and the lifesavers and lifeguards who responded.
“The members of the public who spotted the surfer in trouble and managed to bring him to shore did a fantastic job,” said Jimmy. “They performed CPR until emergency services got there, which is vital for there to be any chance of a patient surviving in these situations.”
Police, Ambulance and Surf Life Saving assets used oxygen and a defibrillator in an attempt to revive the man. He was transported to hospital where his condition is unknown.
Monday 9 September 2019