A teenager swept off rocks at Freshwater headland alongside his friend has made contact to thank rescuers and share that his friend, a 15 year old girl, looks to make a full recovery.
The 17-year-old Sydneysider was with a female friend watching the huge waves splash against the rocks below the walkway between South Curl Curl and Freshwater on Saturday afternoon, 3 February, when a much larger set took them by surprise and swept them into extremely turbulent waters between Freshwater and South Curl Curl.
“We took this photo (above) just two minutes before it happened, I remember that we said that it must be impossible for the waves to reach us and then it happened suddenly. I tried to get out but the waves were too strong, and I was so worried about my friend but I could not reach her. I was certain to have died, it was too scary,” the boy told Manly Observer.
The incident occurred sometime after 4pm, with volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards first on scene, followed by a raft of emergency services including the Toll ambulance helicopter. Council lifeguard Tiaan Cronj launched himself into the swell to provide a flotation device.
While the boy sustained only minor injuries, the girl was taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
Photo: Mauro Barbers @mauceano
Photo: Mauro Barbers @mauceano
Significantly, the young man reached out to us today to let the community to know that the girl had recovered well and was due to be released from hospital in the next day. We were unable to verify this with the Sydney Children’s Hospital, but then the family reached out to also confirm she is now doing well.
“I just want to tell you guys that she is fine and hopefully out of hospital today and tomorrow,” the boy said.
“I am proud of her because she was floating about 20 minutes and she didn’t give up.”
“And I want to say that I am very proud of her because even though she can not swim she stayed calm and kept herself going for a long time. She didn’t give up. I jumped into the water two times to save her but I couldn’t. When the jet ski and lifeguard reached her I just got down on my knees and cried. I tried so many times to help but her the waves pushed me hard into the rock.”
“I just want to thank the people that helped us so much. I have learnt that you can never predict the sea and if it wasn’t for those people who helped us this mistake would have cost our lives.”
