On the 15th of January, in the early hours of the evening, whilst a Board of Directors meeting and March Past training was taking place, a very distressed member of the public ran from the Trigg Point advising the March Past Team there were people in the water who were in danger and needed rescuing.
A number of clubbies immediately responded by using an ATV to secure rescue boards, tubes, first aid and Oxy Viva kits, before travelling along the beach to the boat ramp, arriving to find 3 people out past the reef (2 victims and a member of public rendering assistance), getting belted by large surf with one signaling for assistance.
Upon assessing the dangers it was decided an IRB was required, as the conditions were forcing the members of public to be swept out further from shore, so members of the Board were contacted, requesting assistance and an IRB ASAP. Luckily a kite surfer was out with the trio in danger able to assist in supporting them as the clubbies sprung to action.
The sea conditions were severe, with one large wave hitting the trio in danger with enough force to land them on the reef. Thankfully the kite surfer still had hold of one young female involved as they rolled across the reef. More waves crashed over the 3, which fortunately pulled them in closer to shore. The IRB arrived with the Directors, as well as more clubbies with the ATV who assisted the kite surfer and victim to shore, where the woman was assessed and place in the ATV.
The other person in danger collapsed on the reef, and due to size was dragged to shore, and placed into the recovery position as he expressed sea water, prompting the request for an ambulance. This victim was provided with oxygen therapy due to lower levels of oxygen saturation, and the continued expression of sea water. Upon arrival of the ambulance both victims were further assessed and consulted before being transported to hospital.
The public, Trigg Island SLSC members, victims friends and the kite surfers efforts helped save a person from drowning, and is an example to all lifesavers on the importance of upskilling, and the benefits those skills have away from just volunteer patrol weekends. It also serves a reminder of the key purpose of Trigg Island SLSC’s foundation, to ‘Save lives, and Develop Lives’.
Last week, SLSWA, Royal Lifesaving WA and the City of Stirling featured across many news outlets, pleaded with the public to be more aware and responsible around all forms of waterways. This is on the back of what has been an incredibly strenuous season, that has see the City of Stirling lifeguards conduct more then their annual average of rescues in just a few months, and the number of lives lost around Western Australia due to drowning incidents.
Unfortunately, there’s been a high volume of after hours rescues that are not included in these numbers, and for those who’ve been in danger, it’s a matter of club members and public being in the right place at the right time to raise the alarm and render assistance.
