Saving lives in many ways

Four-year-old Junior Mafi met his heroes the Bondi Rescue lifeguards at Bondi Beach recently.

The Blacktown youngster came with his family to meet the lifeguards and Waverley Mayor Sally Betts, and to enjoy a day at the beach. He was given a signed lifeguard shirt and taken for a ride on the beach on the rhino.

Junior helped save his younger sister Crystal from drowning at Blacktown Aquatic Centre a month ago. Two-year-old Crystal was playing in the babies’ pool when she was shoved and went under the water.

An avid Bondi Rescue fan, Junior raised the alarm telling his grandmother: “Crystal has drowned.” Pool lifeguards sprang into action, resuscitating the unconscious girl.

Mayor Betts said the council arranged for Junior to meet his heroes as a reward for his efforts. “Bondi Rescue is educating viewers about surf safety and helping to save lives,” she said. “Junior wouldn’t have known how to help save his little sister if he hadn’t watched the show.”

Head lifeguard Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins said Junior was an amazing little boy.
“He must be the youngest lifeguard ever. At four he has already made his first rescue,” he said. “This is what it’s all about for us – saving lives – and it’s great that through the show we are even preventing deaths because of the surf safety message.”

Bondi Rescue has been nominated for a Logie for the third consecutive year, in the ‘Most Popular Factual Program’ and ‘Most Outstanding Factual Program’ categories. It has won the ‘Most Popular’ Logie for the past two years. Winners will be announced on May 2.