The South West Rocks Surf Life Saving Club were patrolling main beach and they were conducting a routine inspection of Horseshoe Bay, which was unpatrolled, when president Rod McDonagh spotted three people struggling in the water.

“I could see three people were drifting close to the rocks near Flagstaff Point about 50 metres from the shore and they were yelling out for help,” Mr McDonagh told the Argus.

“They were caught in a rip and they were clearly struggling.”

McDonagh quickly alerted the rest of the patrol team and within a minute Logan McEvoy and Josh McLaren had deployed the rubber ducky and they had reached the three people in the water.

In those 60 seconds, the three people in the water had drifted a further 250m towards Back Creek and further out to sea. 

Fortunately the rubber ducky team was able to quickly lift one adult man and the child onto the boat and assist the other man in returning to shore.

The three holidaymakers were taken to the South West Rocks Surf Life Saving Club where Braydon and Erin Cook were stationed and prepared to assist them medically.

The child was treated after swallowing water but an ambulance was not required.

Mr McDonagh was proud of the efforts of the patrol team who potentially saved the lives of three people.

“The situation had the potential to have a very tragic outcome,” Mr McDonagh said.

“Fortunately the team responded very quickly and perfectly and danger was avoided.

“It was a very skilled response from the rubber ducky crew and the efforts from all the team contributed to a great outcome.”

Mr McDonagh reminded the public to swim between the red and yellow flags.

“Always swim on a patrolled beach and stay between the patrolled area,” Mr McDonagh said.

“Although the conditions may look safe, a situation can turn for the worse in seconds.”

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