Torquay man rescues swimmer at 13th Beach

AN ACT of bravery saved a young girl’s life on Sunday night at 13th Beach.

David and his family were swimming in shallow water when his daughter and her friend were sucked out into deeper waters in a rip.

A Torquay resident, known as Mark, heard screams from the car park, and reacted instantly.

He made his way across the road and looked into their lives.

He immediately knew they were in trouble and bolted straight into the rip.

shallower water and still strong, then proceeded to my daughter who had been taken quite a bit deeper,” David said.

“He and several onlookers saw her head go under and waves wash over her.

“Mark made it to her, risking his own safety, and took hold of her.

“In risking his own life, he saved hers, there’s no doubt about it.”

Mark was the only one who heard the girls’ yells for help, there were others on the beach and David was in the water.

“That Mark heard my daughter’s scream and reacted when he was in the car park quite a way from the ocean is amazing,” David said.

“This is a great wake-up call for us and I hope that getting this message out there may save someone else while acknowledging the bravery and “He is humble and insists that it was a team effort, which it was; however, without him my daughter would be dead.”

David said he would contact the shire to see if there is an award for which he could nominate Mark.