Bondi Rescue helps out in international waters

The boys from Bondi Rescue left earlier this month on a tour around Europe to promote surf safety awareness.

The team will train Swedish lifeguards on advanced lifesaving techniques along the west coast of Sweden and on Gotland Island.

“Bondi is the birthplace of surf lifesaving,” said Bondi Rescue lifeguard Andrew Reid, who is known on the show as ‘Reidy’.

“We will take what we have learned here and share it with the boys in Sweden where surfing really only took off 30 years ago.”

When asked what areas they will be focusing on Reidy said: “We will probably look at ways they do their resuscitation and together we will see if we can make each other’s job more effective and efficient.

In the water I’d say we will be really focusing on patient pick-ups. A lot of the rescues they do are in the ocean with helicopters, so I have no doubt their skill levels will be high.”

Chief Operating Officer of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), Peter George AM, said this was not the first time other countries had sought out Australian lifeguards for their expertise.

“Australia’s surf lifesavers and lifeguards are internationally recognised as professional and highly-skilled.”

Mr George said it was an Australian lifeguard who helped set up the first lifesaving club in Great Britain over 60 years ago.

“This helped establish the Surf Life Saving movement in the UK, which has flourished since.”

Mr George also said SLSA had helped to establish lifesaving in Japan and Bali and had assisted many other countries over the years.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said: “Waverley Council is delighted that its lifeguard team is recognised as having world-class knowledge and expertise in surf safety.

“It is wonderful that they have used their vacation to promote this good cause.”

Andrew ‘Reidy’ Reid and Trent ‘Maxi’ Maxwell flew out on July 3. They will be joined soon by fellow Bondi Rescue crew members Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins, Corey ‘Froddo’ Oliver and Troy ‘Gonzo’ Quinlan.

As part of the tour the boys will also be guest judges at the Atlantic Water Sports Games held in the UK later this month.