Between the Flags By RON LANE
IT was one of those times when training suddenly becomes a reality.
The time was 6am; the date, Thursday 13 November 2014.
At the eastern end of Noosa’s Main Beach six members of Donald McKill’s Active Member Training Group were going through their paces when someone drew attention to a swimmer lying face down on the water’s edge, some hundred metres west of the team.
The realisation that it was of a serious nature clicked in and the group responded immediately.
Some ran to the patient while other team members grabbed the necessary gear.
Reaching their patient it was discovered that it was a male aged in his early sixties lying face down on the water’s edge semi-conscious and with facial cuts. With the patients’ position and facial injuries he was treated as a suspected spinal injury.
The team responded accordingly.
All necessary steps were taken and the patient was kept under observation until the arrival of paramedics.
Once the patient’s condition was stable he was then transported to hospital.
On Monday morning club members who were involved in the rescue were over the moon when their patient walked into the clubhouse to shake hands and say thank you. Job well done.
While the off-duty lifesavers worked on their patient it became apparent that – despite there being only very small surf – he had been heavily dumped face first on to a sandbank.
Here in lies a lesson for all our visitors who are inexperienced in surf to remember: surf does not have to be big to be dangerous.
All that is required is a small dumping wave, a sandbank and no knowledge and it is an accident waiting to happen.
Swim by all means, but take care.
For surf safety, accept your lack of experience and swim accordingly.
Also as in this case, if you swim before the lifeguards or lifesavers who are on duty, don’t hesitate to talk to any that are on the beach training. Talking to tourists is part of our job; on duty or off. Regardless of helicopters, jet rescue boats, rescue skis and IRB, swimming is and always will be for the dedicated patrolman the basis of all our work.
With this in mind, the Noosa club will for its 12th consecutive year, conducted the annual Shirley Strachan Memorial Swim.
The outstanding success of this event is due to two factors. One is the organizers Bruce and Sandy Warren and the other is the continual sponsorship and support of McDermott Aviation.
Bruce, wife Sandy and John McDermott, who is also a member of the Noosa club, have worked well together over the 14 years as a team and it is hoped they will continue to do so in the years ahead.
The swim will take place on 4 January, over a distance of 1.2km and it is open to all active Noosa members from 11 to 60-plus years. Registration will take place at 7.30am at the Noosa club on race day and the swim will start at 9am, and entry is free.
Apart from being the organiser for this event, Warren made his mark in the club when down through the years he worked as the swim coach for the bronze training teams and many a member has him to thank for his coaching and advice during their very vital basic training years.
Sunday afternoon, some 30 old boys and girls gathered on the verandah of the Sunshine Beach Surf Club and it was indeed a very successful afternoon.
Among those present were Mike and Hillary Harding, just two of the team responsible for the club’s Nippers being formed.
