When Sunbathers Ran From Attack, Viral Photo Shows Lifeguard Sprinting ‘Full Speed’ To the Location.
Alexandra Ching, a lifelong resident of Bondi, describes the renowned beach as her own backyard. On that fateful weekend evening, she, like many others in the area, detected loud noises reverberating around the community.
“Everyone did, but I considered it was too light and you couldn't spot any lights,” Ching recounts. She left her apartment, she observed people “streaming up Bondi Road”. Their expressions on display signaled a crisis was unfolding.
As she stood on the avenue, conversing with a pair who had run up the incline still dripping wet, she heard someone moving up from behind. It was a beach patrol officer, dashing to Bondi barefoot from the adjacent Tamarama beach – a distance of 1.5km – while holding a defibrillator.
“I caught a voice saying ‘excuse me’, and when I spun around I just saw this blur of blue,” Ching describes. “He was zooming past. It was just him running in the opposite way that the crowd was trying to get away from, carrying that big kit and barefoot … He moved towards something that undoubtedly every fibre in your being would signal you to move in the other direction.
“Absolutely no pause, but just completely maximum effort racing.”
A Powerful Moment of Courage During Chaos
The image Ching captured of the rescuer, now known to be Jackson Doolan, rapidly circulated as a prime example of acts of courage in the following of the tragic event.
Andy Reid, another lifeguard, noted that Doolan, referred to as “Jacko”, ran from Tamarama beach to assist the other members at Bondi, as well as to help emergency personnel, law enforcement and paramedics attending to numerous the injured.
Community Outpouring and Assistance
Doolan’s story was a single example among several to be shared by the neighbourhood, with the beach facility beside the scene of the incident transforming into a makeshift treatment center. Reports indicate that fellow lifeguards were also seen taking action, for instance rushing into the ocean to assist people needing help.
Following the attack, messages of support were shared. One post shared appreciation for the responders who exhibited that “goodness will always conquer evil”.
The squad of beach patrol later shared a statement, saying they were “processing what happened”.
“Thank you all for your supportive words and support. We are deeply moved by the care for our team,” the group commented. “In time, we will tell our tales in the belief that it supports those involved.”
Council Commendation
Waverley council, the local authority that employs many full-time beach safety officers, stated that the crew performed exceptionally from the instant the violence started right into late that night.
“There have been so many moving narratives, but the popular photo of Jackson Doolan, sprinting from Tamarama to Bondi with a AED so he could help preserve life is remarkable,” stated a council representative.
“These individuals demonstrate selflessness every day in keeping our internationally renowned coastlines safe for the public, but what we observed on that evening should be highly praised.
“While we mourn and process the horror of this brutal and barbaric act of violence, I think it is vital that we reflect on just how much good we have observed in the face of such hatred.”