The nation’s top surf athletes have detailed their heroic rescue efforts after 25 people were sucked into a dangerous rip at a Sydney beach.
The Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series had only just wrapped its competition for the day when a group of swimmers were sucked into a “flash rip” at Maroubra about 4pm on Sunday.
In a matter of seconds, the swimmers were forced out to sea in the powerful current and became stranded in deep waters.
Ironwoman Lana Rogers had reclaimed her title for the second year and was celebrating on the beach with friends when she heard a call over the loudspeaker.
“We just heard ‘massive rescue’ and lucky all of us were here still,” she told Nine.
A group of eight athletes looked out to sea and saw dozens of people fighting to keep their heads above water.
Surf Life Saving NSW rescue boat co-ordinator Tony Carle was among those who involved in the rescue but remained humble saying its what the athletes are trained to do.
“They reacted as lifesavers do, when the call goes out, we go into action,” he said.
“The gentlemen I rescued goes, ”It just happened so fast’.“
Surf Life Saving Australia national sport manager Wayne Druery described the fast-moving waters as a “flash rip”, which are bigger and flow faster than a regular rip.
No one was seriously injured in the incident, however witnesses described “confronting” scenes as people lay unmoving on the sand while lifeguards treated them.
It comes less than 24 hours after an emergency unfolded a bit further north along the coast at Bronte Beach.
Four people became caught in the rip at Bronte Beach at around 8pm on Saturday evening.
A man and three women, all aged in their 30s, were pulled from the water and were taken to hospital.
