On Monday morning, 4 October, the volunteer lifesavers were getting ready to start patrolling Four Mile Beach on a beautiful warm and sunny day.

With the weather turning it on over the long weekend, the lifesavers on duty that morning were chatting away happily, commenting on how beautiful the beach was early in the morning and what a nice way it is to start the day.

“As usual we drive down the IRB (inflatable rescue boat) with the SSV (side by side vehicle) and make our way to the patrol hut. We were just about to unlock the patrol hut when we heard people screaming there was a body on the beach,” said Grant Knight, part of the volunteer patrol group on duty that morning.

Without any hesitation the lifesavers made their way to the scene about 200 meters down from the patrol hut. A group of alert members of the public had spotted a man – who was previously seen swimming – just offshore face down in the water. They managed to pull the man from the water and got him onto the beach.

“When we arrived at the scene the man, aged in his seventies, was unconscious but luckily still breathing,” Knight said.

As Knight drove down to the patient, another bystander jumped on the vehicle and informed him she was an emergency doctor and was able to help. Together they observed the patient’s situation and provided assistance.

“While Grant rushed down to the patient, I contacted SurfCom, our central support team based on the Gold Coast, to ask for an ambulance. This is such a good system, as we don’t lose any time being on the phone with 000 and can focus on the rescue,” said Club President Irene Cats, who was also part of the patrol group on duty.

While Cats made her way to the scene, Bridget Greensill arrived for her first ever day on patrol.

“Bridget was thrown straight in the deep end but did a great job. She was crucial in meeting the ambulance team at the patrol hut and guiding them down to the scene. In the meantime, another member of the patrol group, Luke Humphries, came down to the beach and noticed the commotion just south of the patrol hut. Luke is a Paramedic, so having him there was a great reassurance for the rest of the team,” Cats said.

Within 10 minutes of contacting SurfCom the lifesavers could hear the sirens coming towards the beach.

“Having such a quick reaction from the public, our patrol team and the emergency team meant a significantly higher chance of survival for the patient,” she said.

As this is all happening and the team is still occupied with the rescue, word comes in that there has been a large saltwater crocodile last spotted heading towards the flagged swimming area.

“Having a well-trained and full patrol meant we had Emily Donoghue and Cara Fregoni available at the patrol hut to make swimmers aware of the situation and put up the red flags to close the beach,” Knight said.

“And this is all happening before we could even open the beach!”

“It was definitely a morning we won’t forget. And making sure the man left the beach in the ambulance conscious and breathing, in a much better state than when we first arrived at the scene is something very special to be a part of.

“We’d love to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved with the rescue on Monday morning, including of course the members of the public.”

The Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club volunteers patrol Four Mile Beach on Sundays and Public Holidays from April – November. If you would like to become a Lifesaver please contact them via their Facebook Page. The next Bronze Course will run from May – July next year.

You can also see them in action on Four Mile Beach this weekend, patrolling and competing at the North Queensland Branch Championships. Nippers and Life Savers from the age of 5 up to 70 will compete on the beach and in the ocean on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Everyone is welcome to spectate and cheer the Port Douglas club on.