Club Rescue Citations - well done Max Vercoe, Braiden Byrne & Belinda Elliott
At our 2017 Awards Dinner & Presentation 3 members (Max Vercoe, Braiden Byrne & Belinda Elliott) were acknowledged for the efforts in the rescue of 4 people after their patrol had just finished in February 2017. If these people were swimming at a beach where no surf club members were present it would have been a tragedy. All 3 received a CLUB RESCUE CITATION certificate, unfortunately Belinda couldn't be there on the night. They received a thunderous round of applause from the crowd.
" On Sunday 12 February Max Vercoe, Braiden Byrne & Belinda Elliott were involved in the rescue of 4 people after hours (610pm-615pm). Markus Meir-Lindner & Gary Arnold were our senior members on this patrol. Sunday was like any normal day with heat wave conditions the previous 2 days, heaps of people were expected at the beach. Illawarra Branch Championships were on as well so we had prepared & made sure that our patrol teams were covered as you do because even though we are a strong surf sports club lifesaving is No1 priority! Max & Braiden actually won gold in the U19 boat at these championships in the morning. Both Markus & Belinda assisted all morning with the juniors at Branch as well. The arvo patrol got a taste of all conditions with lightning, heavy rain, sunshine, cool southerly winds & choppy surf. After pulling the flags down, getting our lifesaving equipment to the containers & signing off in the site shed known as our patrol room. A member of the public alerted Max & Braiden about 4 young persons (mid 20's) that had been sweep out in a rip at the northern end of the beach near the rock pool, about 50m behind the pool. The boys swung into action & paddled rescue boards out to rescue the 4 persons, Max heading out twice. One guy was visibly distressed & needed to be physically carried back onto the sand, oxygen therapy was administrated & subsequently transported to Wollongong Hospital by Ambulance. The other 3 received first aid treatment for shock. Our team of 3 lifesavers should be applauded for their excellent team work & ultimately saving a real possibility of a death/drowning, maybe 1 or even 4 people. Markus had an opportunity to speak with one of the people rescued & basically they all came from a Middle Eastern background, live in the Campbelltown area & don't come to the beach much. They saw the red & yellow flags taken down but didn't know what they are for. Imagine if they were at a beach where there are no surf clubs or no people around, you would be reading a tragic story."
Congratulations to Max Vercoe, Braiden Byrne & Belinda Elliott for outstanding team work in performing this rescue of four people outside of patrol hours on Sunday 12 February 2017