PWC Lifeguard Saves Seven Lives in Two Years

More often, we keep hearing how personal watercraft are being employed in good work, all of which is useful in preserving the rights of personal watercraft enthusiasts to enjoy their craft in waterways around the globe. Yesterday, we were made aware of Pacific Palms lifeguard Lennon Fisher, who has used his PWC to save seven lives in less than two years.

Most recently, Fisher saved one of three rock fishermen swept into treacherous seas last week. Fisher, one of several surf lifesavers connected to the Surf Life Saving NSW Lower North Coast Branch, was alerted last Wednesday of three men from Goulburn that swept from the rocks into the ocean by described a “freak wave.”

The rock platform near the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse at Seal Rocks is a popular fishing sport. All four fishermen were swept into the water, with the fourth being the only one to swim back to the beach. Fisher and fellow lifeguard, John Gray immediately scrambled, Fisher launching a club jet ski from Boat Beach while Gray remained ashore as backup.

When Fisher arrived, he soon saw the lone man pacing up and down a rock platform. In an interview with Great Lakes Advocate, he recalled, “One guy was on the rocks, running up and down screaming and pointing in the other direction and it was then that I saw this other man clinging to rocks.”

“The man was stripped down to his undies and I realized he couldn’t physically move so I got in the water and I was able to push him up onto the ski. Then I had the drama of trying to get myself back on the ski without rolling it.”

Fisher drove the man to safety back to Boat Beach where Gray was waiting. The man pacing the rocks was air lifted by a Westpac Rescue Helicopter. He concluded, “When we got back to the beach I thought there was only one guy in the water and we had saved him but then we found out about the other man missing (Peter Oberg) so it was pretty heartbreaking to find out there’s still someone out there.”

Pacific Palms Surf Club president Kel McCredie praised Fisher saying it had been the seventh life he had saved in the past two years. “That’s the highest on the list for rescues,” McCredie said. “And they’ve all been on jet skis.”