A teenager is recovering in hospital after being pulled from the water by Lifeguards at Crescent Head Beach on Tuesday.


Shortly before 11am a 15-year-old and his friend were walking along the beach and decided to go for a swim several hundred metres north of the patrolled area.



Almost immediately they got into difficulty in a rip current.



The boy’s friend was able to swim out of the rip current and alert a member of the public to the situation.



Two members of the public including Reid Yarnold a 15-year-old stand up paddle boarder, and Mona Vale SLSC member Matthew Smeal were first to the shore and were able to hold the distressed teen on the board until help arrived from a Lifeguard with a rescue tube.



The teenage swimmer was then transported to shore.



After swallowing a large amount of water and reporting to his rescuers that he was feeling unwell, the boy was administered oxygen and an ambulance was called.



The attending paramedics made the decision to transport the boy to hospital for further observation and treatment.



Australian Lifeguard Service Operations Manager Oliver Munson praised the quick actions of the Lifeguards.



“It was fortunate that this incident occurred near a patrolled area and the Lifeguards were able to get to the scene quickly and provide immediate first aid,” said Mr Munson.



“What this incident highlights is just how quickly conditions can change and why you need to swim at a patrolled beach.



“I would also like to thank the members of the public for their assistance in this successful outcome.”



The beach was open at the time of the incident and comes off the back of a horror fortnight on the region’s beaches.



Tips On How To Spot A Rip Current




  • Some signs include;

  • Deeper, dark-coloured water.

  • Fewer breaking waves.

  • A rippled surface surrounded by smooth waters.

  • Anything floating out to sea or foamy, discoloured, sandy, water flowing out beyond the waves.

  • Rips don’t always show all of these signs at once

  • Rip Current Survival Tips

  • Relax – stay calm and float to conserve your energy.

  • Raise – raise your arm and attract attention from lifeguards or lifesavers.

  • Rescue – the lifeguards or lifesavers will be on their way to help you.

  • While floating, rip currents may flow in a circular pattern and return you to an adjacent sandbar

  • You may escape the rip current by swimming parallel to the beach, towards the breaking waves.

  •  Reassess your situation. If what you’re doing isn’t working, try one of the other options until you’re rescued or return to shore.



Tuesday 19 December 2017