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Supporter Stories
Surf Life Saving has touched the lives of millions of people over its 100 year history. Each year, tens of thousands of lives are saved from tragic drowning incidents. But it’s not only the lives that are saved each year that earn our volunteer lifesavers the respect from Australians. The Surf Life Saving patrols have given Australians and fellow tourists a chance to spend many happy holidays relaxing with the knowledge that our highly trained surf lifesavers are close by. Australian beaches have always been a special part of people’s lives.
Over the years, many supporters of the Surf Life Saving Foundation have sent us stories about how surf lifesavers have saved their lives or those of friends and family or Surf Life Saving has simply kept them safe and made their time at the beach a special time they never forget.
Whether it is a childhood memory or recent experience, please tell us your story or send us a thank you message to our surf lifesavers and we may include it on this page.
Read supporters' stories:
Rescue Stories
On December 25th 2008, Christmas day, I was in the water and got caught in the surf. I found myself drifting further and further away from the beach.
Fighting the waves trying to swim back to shore, I struggled to keep my head above the water and keep one hand up high hoping that I would be seen. Luckily I was.
Thanks to the brave young surf lifesaver, at around 2pm on Christmas day, he pulled me out of the water. For him it was a routine operation, but not for me, I was on the edge of giving up.
At that time, I did not have the strength to say thank you. However, as a result I became a Guardian of the Surf (a monthly supporter) because it was then I realised the importance of the work Surf Lifesavers do.
David Markanovich I was one of those caught in the wave mass (Black Sunday) at Bondi about 60 years ago. I saw what the lifesavers did. Fortunately I was a strong swimmer and escaped without help. From memory, I believe they rescued over 200 people that day.
Dudley Goodwin
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