With strong winds and low visibility from the glaring sun, three young men would have been moments from drowning at Trigg Beach if not for a nearby surf lifesaving training session.
Husband and wife Nick and Mellie Straight, who are both age group managers for the under-9s at Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club, were attending their daughter Hawaii’s beach training session on January 31.
Ms Straight was in the water with her husband and daughter at about 6pm when she spotted three heads behind the surf break.
She said her instincts told her to keep an eye on the group.
Their distance from shore prompted her to approach the boys’ group of friends, who assured her the group was fine before their fun quickly turned to panic moments later.
Ms Straight quickly swam to her husband to alert him and described the group’s loud screams for help as “a scream you don’t want to hear”.
Mr Straight darted to his racing board 100m from the water, which he had brought along only by chance.
“I was considering just swimming there so that I didn’t waste time, but also, with the conditions and not knowing the guys’ size, I decided to just run and get my board,” he said.
While he was getting his board, Mr Straight yelled out to other senior members of the training group to assist.
Meanwhile, his wife saw heads in the group going under the water and feared the worst.
“There was quite a lot of glare off the water, and with the choppy waves, it was very difficult to see their heads,” Mr Straight said.
“I charged out about 80m and could see a guy struggling, putting his hand out and calling for help, so I was able to get to him and had him hold on to my board.”
He said the board he was on was rated for only 75kg, which added an extra degree of difficulty to the rescue.
“I’m about 85kg, and the guy I was helping was probably 30kg heavier,” he said.
“I just told him to hold on.”
The nearby lifesaving club had also been alerted, and three members who had just finished a training session raced out to help the other two men, who had drifted about 150m from shore.
“I was comfortable at that point to turn around and make my way back to shore,” Mr Straight said.
“I helped the guy get on the board, but he was very, very fatigued.
“By then, quite a lot of people had come down, and they had Surf Lifesaving WA and the water police on standby.
“If it wasn’t for Mellie, it could have been much more of a recovery rather than a rescue because no one seemed all that aware of it.”
Mr Straight has been involved in surf lifesaving clubs for 13 years and said such situations were what he was prepared for.
“The little nippers looking on were concerned, but it was great to show them why we train,” he said.
“It’s great to go to State competitions and get a medal around your neck, but that’s (the rescue) really what we’re doing this for, and that’s why we train to race and be fast.”
Ms Straight said paramedics were called to check on the rescued swimmers, who had swallowed significant water. She said the situation hit home, with the couple having two sons of similar age to the young men they rescued.
“I’ve got boys who are 21 and 17; I just thought about the family — them going home that night was the best thing ever,” she said.
“I think all of the years of me watching my boys surfing ‘til dark gave me that motherly instinct to keep an eye on the group.”
Surf Life Saving WA’s general manager of lifesaving, Chris Peck, said the organisation was extremely proud of the actions of those involved in the rescue.
“We know that the training our lifesavers receive is of value not only when they are patrolling between the flags at their local beach, but the skills learned are also transferable to many emergency situations encountered away from the beach,” he said.
“We regularly hear stories about our lifesavers selflessly going to the aid of others, either at their workplace, at their school or out and about in the community, putting the skills and knowledge attained through surf life saving to use and making a real difference in the community, and that’s what it’s all about.”
With plenty of hot weather ahead, Mr Peck reminded beach-goers to take necessary precautions such as choosing a patrolled location and swimming between the flags where possible.
“We know that many are heading to the beach at the end of a hot day when patrols often aren’t in place, so it’s important that people know their limitations, choose a location appropriate to their abilities and keep a close eye on friends and family.”