Saving a Life at 13 In late December 2018, Doug Hawkins led one of the largest Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) courses in the country at Coogee SLSC. Among the 84-strong squad of new lifesavers were two 13 year-olds, Ginevra Aiello and Amelie Filippi.
13 year-old lifesavers Ginevra and Amelie
Little did they know, their new skills would be put to use to save a life almost immediately. The SRC is the transitional course between the Surf Life Saving Nippers program and the Bronze Medallion. It aims to develop and support young members between 12-14 years as they move into becoming patrolling members and future leaders of the movement. Coogee SLSC is proud of their consistently strong program. “We tell these kids they aren’t obtaining a certificate, they are becoming a surf lifesaver,” says Doug. “They’re joining a team, they’re part of the patrol and their skills have to match those of the patrol. We set a solid benchmark and they enjoy achieving it.” On 28 December, Ginevra and Amelie were enjoying a day at Freshwater beach with their families. As they were packing up to leave, they headed into the surf for one last swim in the moderate two-foot waves. “People don’t understand how dangerous and lifethreatening it can be to swim outside the flags,” said Right in front of them was a woman struggling to keep Ginevra after her first rescue. “If you’re not a strong herself above water. swimmer or understand the ocean and how fast conditions “I immediately swam towards her without taking my can change, you can get into a lot of trouble, and there eyes off her,” Ginevra spoke with amazing maturity as she might not always be someone there to help you. recounting the incident. “There was no hesitation about “If we hadn’t completed our SRC I’m not sure we would what I had to do.” have had the capacity to help,” said Amelie. “It’s given us Amelie who was further out in the water, saw the fast the confidence to do something and potentially save a life response of her friend as she headed towards the flailing in this kind of situation.” patient. Without missing a beat, she swam to assist. In their trainer’s opinion, the “The woman started to panic,” We’re thankful for the time and effort girls are destined to become said Ginevra, who reached the our trainers put into teaching us how great leaders in the club and the woman first. “Her husband was to be good lifesavers. We’re so grateful organisation. alongside her but he didn’t have we could help save a life this summer. Ginevra obligingly added, “After the ability to help her.” this experience we appreciate Doug Hawkins has trained the skills we’ve been taught through Nippers and our SRC thousands of young lifesavers and has known the girls course at Coogee SLSC. We’re thankful for the time and since they began Nippers as Under 6s and commented that effort our trainers put into teaching us how to be good they were two of the most focused during their eight-week lifesavers. We’re so grateful we could help save a life this SRC training. During that time they undertook simulated summer.” scenarios, rescue training, CPR and theory. A proud trainer, Doug concluded, “The girls responded so Using their newly acquired lifesaving skills, the young girls were able to reassure their patient and her husband as they well. They didn’t think, worry or question their skills. They knew they had a situation on their hands but they had the guided them onto a sandbank. confidence in their skills to do what needed to be done When they reached the shallows, the girls wrapped their quickly. Their actions are great testament to the training hands around their patient’s waist to perform a two-person our organisation provides and the great people we have carry until she was safely on the beach. involved.” As they approached shore, Amelie signalled and shouted In the 2018/19 season, surf lifesavers and the Australian to a bystander for assistance in the carry while the two Lifeguard Service (ALS) in NSW performed 3,500 rescues. continued to reassure the patient.
