As Swimmers Fled Danger, Widely-Shared Picture Depicts Rescuer Dashing ‘Pedal to the Metal’ Towards the Scene.
Alexandra Ching, a lifelong local of Bondi, has always considered the renowned shoreline as her back yard. On that fateful weekend evening, she, similar to other local residents, heard cracking sounds echoing across the suburb.
“Everyone did, but I considered it was daylight and you couldn't spot any lights,” Ching recounts. She left her apartment, she saw people “pouring up Bondi Road”. Their expressions she saw signaled something was wrong.
While standing on the avenue, speaking to a pair who had rushed up the slope in their swimwear, she noticed someone coming up at her rear. It was a beach patrol officer, sprinting towards Bondi unshod from the adjacent Tamarama beach – about 1.5km – while carrying a life-saving kit.
“I noticed a person utter ‘excuse me’, and turning my head I only caught a glimpse of this blur of blue,” she recounts. “He was zooming past. He was alone moving in the opposite way that everyone was trying to escape from, and hauling that big kit and without footwear … He was sprinting at something that surely every part of you would instruct you to move in the opposite direction.
“Just no hesitation, but just totally maximum effort sprinting.”
A Powerful Moment of Bravery During Tragedy
The photo taken by Ching of the rescuer, later named as Jackson Doolan, quickly spread as a prime example of instances of heroism in the wake of the tragic event.
Andy Reid, another lifeguard, noted that Doolan, called “Jacko”, sprinted from Tamarama beach to assist the remaining crew at Bondi, as well as to help surf lifesavers, law enforcement and paramedics caring for many those hurt.
Community Outpouring and Assistance
Doolan’s actions was a single example among several to be shared by the local area, with the patrol base beside the location of the attack serving as a temporary medical station. Accounts show that other team members were also seen helping out, such as going into the water to assist people in distress.
In the days after the tragedy, messages of gratitude circulated widely. A social media message expressed thanks for the individuals who demonstrated that “compassion will always overcome hatred”.
The group of lifeguards later shared a message, noting they were “coming to terms with what happened”.
“Thank you all for your thoughtful words and encouragement. We are overwhelmed by the kindness shown towards our team,” the group stated. “When ready, we will share our stories in the hope that it aids those involved.”
Official Praise
Waverley council, the local authority that oversees many professional lifeguards, stated that the team performed exceptionally from the moment the shooting started until late that evening.
“People have shared so many powerful narratives, but the viral photo of Jackson Doolan, running from Tamarama to Bondi with a AED so he could help preserve life is remarkable,” commented a mayor.
“Our lifeguards exhibit altruism every day in maintaining the safety of our internationally renowned coastlines secure for surfers and swimmers, but what we witnessed on that evening should be celebrated.
“While we mourn and process the horror of this heinous tragedy, I think it is crucial that we reflect on just how much positivity we have observed in the midst of such evil.”
