As Beachgoers Fled Violence, Widely-Shared Photo Captures Beach Patrol Sprinting ‘All Out’ Towards the Scene.
Alexandra Ching, a lifelong resident of Bondi, describes the renowned beach as her back yard. On that particular Sunday evening, she, like many neighbors, detected cracking sounds ringing out around the suburb.
“We all thought the same, but I thought it was too light and no one could see them,” she explains. Exiting her home, she witnessed people “pouring up Bondi Road”. Their expressions she saw made it clear a crisis was unfolding.
As she stood on the avenue, conversing with a pair who had hurried up the hill still dripping wet, she noticed someone coming up at her rear. The person was a lifeguard, dashing towards Bondi without shoes from the neighbouring Tamarama beach – a distance of 1.5km – while carrying a medical device.
“I noticed a person utter ‘excuse me’, and turning my head I spotted this blur of blue,” Ching describes. “He was zooming past. It was just him moving in the path that everyone was trying to escape from, carrying that sizeable pack and unshod … He’s running towards something that undoubtedly every part of you would instruct you to run in the reverse way.
“Absolutely no pause, but just fully pedal to the metal racing.”
An Iconic Image of Heroism In the Wake of Tragedy
The photo Ching captured of the rescuer, later named as Jackson Doolan, quickly spread as among numerous instances of heroism in the wake of the violent incident.
Andy Reid, another lifeguard, says that Doolan, called “Jacko”, ran from Tamarama beach to support the other members at Bondi, as well as to work with surf lifesavers, officers and ambulance crews attending to dozens of the injured.
Local Response and Solidarity
Doolan’s account was just one of many to be shared by the local area, with the patrol base next to the scene of the violence serving as a makeshift medical station. It was shared that fellow lifeguards were also seen helping out, for instance entering the ocean to assist people who were struggling.
After the events, messages of appreciation were shared. A social media message expressed gratitude for the lifeguards who exhibited that “goodness will always conquer hatred”.
The squad of lifeguards later shared a statement, noting they were “coming to terms with what happened”.
“Our thanks go out to all for your kind messages and solidarity. We are overwhelmed by the compassion directed at our responders,” the organization wrote. “Eventually, we will recount our experiences in the hope that it supports those affected.”
Local Government Commendation
Waverley council, the governing body that employs many full-time beach safety officers, remarked that the crew acted heroically from the instant the violence began until late that night.
“There have been so many powerful stories, but the popular image of Jackson Doolan, running from Tamarama to Bondi with a defibrillator so he could help preserve life is remarkable,” commented a local official.
“The team demonstrate altruism every day in keeping our world-famous coastlines safe for surfers and swimmers, but what we witnessed on that day should be commended.
“During this time of sorrow and come to terms with the horror of this violent and horrific tragedy, I think it is vital that we reflect on just how much light we have seen in the face of such darkness.”