The iconic lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers of Bondi Beach were called upon in the most horrific of circumstances last Sunday, when a Hanukkah festival at the famous shoreline was shattered by gunfire.
Christmas Celebration Interrupted by Chaos
Steve Pearce from Surf Life Saving Australia revealed to Sunrise host Nat Barr on Tuesday that the lifesavers from both Bondi and North Bondi surf clubs were in the midst of their Christmas party when the attack began. They heard the gunshots and witnessed people falling in the park through the club windows. Without a second thought, their celebration turned into a rescue mission.
"Our lifesavers just immediately ran out," Pearce stated. "They ran out, grabbed as many children out of the playground as they could save."
Acting Amid Active Gunfire
In a display of extraordinary courage, the teams began performing CPR and first aid on injured victims even before police were alerted. With gunshots still echoing across the beachfront, they used their rescue boards as stretchers to carry the wounded to the North Bondi Surf Club, which was transformed into a triage centre.
"The lifesavers were out here, and the lifeguards, while there was active gunfire. And they were performing CPR," Pearce explained. Their response was so comprehensive that they exhausted all medical supplies. "They consumed every piece of first aid medical equipment out of two clubs. Every oxygen cylinder, every bandage, every defibrillator."
The chaos extended into the water, as Pearce described how some terrified festival-goers fled into the ocean. Lifeguards were simultaneously performing water rescues while their colleagues tended to the injured on land.
Trauma and the Road to Recovery
While praising the "magnificent" efforts of his crews and the subsequent "cavalry" of police and ambulance, Pearce underscored the deep psychological impact of the event. These crews, though trained for myriad emergencies, had never been drilled for a mass shooting on their beach.
"Our people are traumatised. You know, a lot are really damaged," Pearce admitted frankly. Counselling sessions have been underway to support the responders. He emphasised that the road to recovery will be long, stating, "It's going to take a long time to look after our people."
In a poignant detail, Pearce noted that all the first aid equipment used during the incident will need to be replaced, as the lifesavers do not feel comfortable using it again after the traumatic events. The community now faces the dual task of physically restocking the clubs and emotionally supporting the heroes who served without hesitation.
