Police have praised the efforts of four teenage boys who helped three other young people swept out by a rip at a Tasmanian beach.
About 4:30pm on Saturday, police say they received a report from “concerned community members” after “three youths had been caught in a rip and swept approximately 50 metres from the shore toward the blowhole” at Blackmans Bay Beach, south of Hobart.
“Shortly before police arrival, four teenage boys at the scene entered the water and successfully rescued the three youths (aged 16, 15 and 12) — preventing a potential tragedy,” police said in a statement.
“While police do not encourage members of the public to enter the water to conduct rescues beyond their capabilities, on this occasion the teenagers involved were confident and capable in open-water conditions.”
The three rescued youths were transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital in a stable condition, police said.
Police say the teenage rescuers “were confident and capable” in the open-water conditions. (Kingborough Council)
Son ’30 seconds from drowning’, dad says
Cameron Marusarz, whose son Seth was rescued, said it had been a very close call.
“I believe my son was worst off out of all of them; he was probably about 30 seconds away from drowning,” he said.
“If those boys didn’t get in and save him he probably wouldn’t be here today.”
Mr Marusarz, who wasn’t at the beach at the time, said his mind was “just racing” when he got the phone call about what was happening.
He expressed his gratitude to the group that helped rescue the trio.
“I just want to thank them. If it wasn’t for them, I can’t even imagine what would have happened and what we could have been dealing with today,” he said.
“They just took it upon themselves, didn’t worry about what was going to happen to them if they got caught in [the rip] and just dove in to help someone.
“I am so, so grateful to those boys and what they’ve done. I can’t thank them enough.”
He said he had spoken to his son and his son’s girlfriend, who was also rescued, and that while they were both shaken, they were doing OK.
“It’s really just starting to sink in about how close it was. But physically, they’re OK.”