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Shane signals for assistance as Craig (left) grabs a boy in a wave
Returned to Mum, while behind Craig puts the boy on the rescue board with Finn the lifesaver
Shane goes back to help Finn rescue the others
Photos by Fiona Harding, Gold Coast Bulletin |
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8 January 2007
In treacherous conditions on Sunday 7 Jan lifesavers helped a number of people from the water at Surfers Paradise beach.
Lifesaver Shane noticed three children being swept out of the flagged area. He dived in and grabbed a young girl and signaled for assistance as Craig (who was filming the rescue with an underwater camera) grabbed a young boy. Lifesaver Finn rescues the third child with a rescue board. As Shane handed the first girl to her mother, Craig gave the boy to Finn who returned the kids to the beach on the rescue board (see photos right).
To celebrate The Year of the Lifesaver, Cornerbox and Channel Seven in association with Surf Life Saving Australia, are producing an observational documentary series about Australian lifesavers.
The thirteen episode series will focus on dedicated volunteer lifesavers patrolling Australia's most treacherous beaches.
The Freckle Face crew are in the thick of the action helping out on rescues of small children and asian tourists, and helping to track wanted offenders in a hi-speed police car chase.
While on routine surf patrol in the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter the chopper crew received word of a police chase in the area. With cameras rolling the chopper crew spotted the stolen car and contacted police. The police chase is called off four times as the wanted man drives at more than twice the speed limit often on the wrong side of the road, over median strips and through roundabouts on the wrong side.
The helicopter crew constantly updated police on his position as a number of marked and unmarked police vehicles followed at a safe distance.
The wanted man drove into an underground car park then ran. The helicopter crew pinpoint his position for police to make the arrest. The chase made the front page of the Gold Coast Bulletin on 30 Dec 06.
On New Years Eve a Chinese student nearly drowned a Surfers Paradise beach after loosing his boogie board while swimming outside the flags. Lifesavers noticed a hand in the water and pulled the man out only moments from death. He was given oxygen and taken to hospital.
Five crews will cover beaches on the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Northern and Southern Sydney and Melbourne.
The Gold Coast Crew includes Producer Nicole McCuaig (Black Soldier Blues and Heart of Gold), Cameraman Craig Lucas, Sound Recordist Suzi Lucas and Assistant Producer Julianne Deeb.
The series is being shot from mid-December 2006 to Australia Day 2007 and will air on Channel Seven in early 2007.
Some of the stories have made font page news:
Freckle Face crew film a high speed police chase that made the front page of the Gold Coast Bulletin on
30 Dec 06 |
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And on 8 Jan 07 the Surf Patrol crew appeared on the front page |
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