A FRANKSTON MICA paramedic and a Chelsea policeman have been recommended for bravery awards after rescuing a woman in difficulties off Chelsea beach, 9pm, Thursday 27 August (‘Duo’s daring sea rescue ‘brave’ effort’, The News 2/9/15).
The Chelsea woman was seen by a passer-by near Maury Rd wading out in rough and dangerous waters fully clothed. She was distressed after a personal issue and would not be consoled.
The witness tried in vain to reach the woman as she swam away; he saw her head go under and lost sight of her, and then waded back to shore and called 000.
Arriving minutes later, ambulance officer Brenton Willey and Senior Constable David Malloch used torches to sweep along the beach searching for the woman in case she had returned to shore. However, she was 100 metres north of her original position and 100 metres out to sea after having been in the freezing water for about 15 minutes.
The Air Wing had been called but poor conditions meant a helicopter could not attempt a rescue. The Water Police were more than 40 minutes away and unlikely to be of any use.
“There was nothing else to do but go and get her, so we went straight in,” Mr Willey said last week. “I am a surfer and used to the water so it wasn’t too bad.
“Of course it was a bit out of the ordinary but, as an ambulance officer, you get used to it. No two jobs are the same.”
Mr Willey and the policeman swam out through the rough, dark waters and brought the woman back to shore – despite her protests.
“It never crossed my mind that we wouldn’t successfully retrieve the patient,” he said. “I felt we worked well together during the events over the next half hour.”
For his efforts, Senior Constable Malloch received a kick in the face causing swelling to his eye socket.
The woman was taken to Frankston hospital while.
Senior Sergeant Chris Jones, of Chelsea police, is recommending bravery awards for the two men. “They did a great job of rescuing the woman in the freezing conditions and saved her life,” he said.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 9 September 2015
