“As a volunteer surf lifesaver, you never know when you are going to need to use your skills. But to know they were safe, that was very satisfying, very rewarding for me.” Brad Marsden, Volunteer Surf Life Saver, Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club.

It is not only on the beach that our volunteer surf lifesavers make a significant impact. From assisting during natural disasters such as fires and floods when called upon, to reacting on instinct to assist in emergencies when going about their everyday life, our volunteer surf lifesavers are trained and ready to come to our aid in our communities too.

Driving south with his daughter near Boyds Bay, off-duty volunteer surf lifesaver Brad Marsden witnessed a vehicle suddenly veer off the road and plunge into the water. Within moments, the car began to sink, and an ordinary Saturday afternoon became a desperate race against time to save a family.

Without hesitation, Brad pulled over, asked bystanders to call emergency services, and rushed into the water alongside other members of the public who had stopped to help. Inside the vehicle were four occupants: a mother, a father, and their two young children.

The father, who was in the driver’s seat, managed to escape, but the mother was still in the passenger seat, and there were two children trapped in the back as the vehicle was disappearing beneath the surface.

“We got out there, and the car was still floating but sinking fast. We were frantically trying to get those kids out before the car went under. We couldn’t break the glass,” Brad said, recounting the terrifying life-or-death situation that was taking place as the seconds ticked by and the car became further submerged in the water.

As precious seconds ticked away, rescuers struggled to open one of the children's doors. When it finally gave way, Brad repeatedly dived beneath the murky water, searching desperately for the child's seatbelt.

“At that stage, I had to dive down and try to find the seatbelt underwater. I couldn’t find it on my first go. I had to come up and take another breath, and head back down again. Finally, I got the seatbelt off the girl and dragged her out of the back seat, but she got stuck. I had to go up again and take another breath and dive back down,” Brad recounted of the multiple attempts it took to save the child’s precious life.

“Finally, on the third go, I got her out of the back seat and above water. The other guys had thankfully got the second child and mother out of the other side of the car, as it was completely underwater by that stage,” Brad said.

Together, they brought the entire family safely to shore, where emergency services were waiting to attend to the patients.

“I didn't hesitate to go in,” he said, recalling how he reacted on instinct, a testament to the training volunteer surf lifesavers go through to ensure they have the capability to react on second notice.

“And when I got out there, it was important to work with the others in the water to make sure we all were doing the right thing. It was a matter of keeping calm and just going through the right steps.”

For Brad, the rescue highlighted the value of the training and experience he has gained through Surf Life Saving. In a sudden, high-pressure emergency where every second counted, being a volunteer surf lifesaver for 30 years and those skills helped him remain calm, make critical decisions, and contribute to an outcome that could easily have ended in tragedy.

“Once we got them out of the car, there was just this massive relief. Getting the family to shore and seeing the emergency services were there, that was also just a massive relief. You feel the adrenaline pumping for quite a while after that!”

Thanks to the quick actions of Brad and fellow rescuers, a family was reunited and spared the heartbreak of losing a loved one.

“I love being a volunteer surf lifesaver,” Brad said. “I love the beach lifestyle, the camaraderie and the clubs, the variety of things you do and the training. I highly encourage everyone to get involved with Surf Life Saving.”

Brad is also appreciative of the community support who ensure he and other volunteer surf lifesavers can continue to save lives on the beach and out in the community.

“We appreciate all the fundraising and donation efforts. It’s such a great community cause to donate to; all of us are there for the cause, and it’s a great part of Australian life. It’s also an association that trains young people. People are learning skills and applying them on the beach and out in the community. Volunteer surf lifesavers are doing something really positive for our communities, and it’s lifelong. As a volunteer surf lifesaver, you never know when you are going to need to use your skills,” Brad said, explaining how his extensive training translates to emergencies away from the beach.

“In relation to the rescue of the family in the submerged car, skills like going out into the water to rescue someone, resuscitation, working with others to coordinate a rescue, making fast decisions under pressure, keeping calm in a life-or-death situation – I have all these great skills I’ve learnt over many years as a volunteer surf lifesaver, and they were instrumental in helping me on that Saturday afternoon at Boyds Bay.

I completed my Bronze Medallion many years ago, and every year I update that and practice rescues when I’m on patrols. I come to board training a few times a week to make sure I'm fit enough to always be able to go out in bigger surf, and I make sure I’m proficient in advanced resuscitation. We learn so many skills as volunteer surf lifesavers, and we make sure we keep updating these,” Brad said.

Brad and other volunteer surf lifesavers on the frontline are essential to saving lives on our beaches and in our communities, and our supporters are also an essential part of our lifesaving mission too.