Two swimmers caught in a rip in a popular Adelaide beach have been saved with the help of dozens of volunteers, including an 11-year-old boy.
Glenelg surf life savers helped rescue the two sisters on Saturday afternoon when they were caught in a rip and heading towards the breakwater.
One young woman found her face down in the water and needed to be resuscitated when she was taken back to shore.
She was later taken to hospital and is now recovering at home.
The quick-thinking and actions to help the trio has led to the rescuers being nominated for a state rescue award.
Despite there being a lot of signage in the area, lifesaver and surf lifesaver and inflatable rescue boat [IBR] driver Dan Demaria explained the first woman entered the water about 30m south of the signage and began floating away as she couldn't swim.
He said her sister then jumped in to try and save her and also got into trouble because she too couldn’t swim.
Her partner then jumped in to help both the women but the patient drifted towards the rocks and drifted about 20 feet off the breakwater.
The man, who swam back to shore, then flagged down help.
Mr Demaria, who pulled the woman from the water, said the incident took place after 4pm when more than 100 nippers had finished their training and club swim and all watched the situation unfold.
“If we need to stress one thing it is to swim between the flags. That‘s where the life savers are and we can keep an eye on you.
“It only takes seconds to get into trouble. If it was 30 or 60 seconds more we wouldn't have had the positive outcome we had.”
As the unresponsive patient returned to the shore, Lochie Macgregor, aged 11, said he had to quickly direct other children away from her.
“I knew if they saw what I saw they would be very scared and traumatised,” he said.
“Some nippers were helping by grabbing some equipment to provide to the patient and I was also comforting some young nippers who did unfortunately see the patient at the time.
“There were the main responders but everyone else helped out in some way, either getting people off the beach, getting equipment, clearing the access ramps and doing those things to contribute.
“I feel proud not just of (myself) but of the whole team. It was a full on process but the volunteer lifesavers, the nippers and the members of the public all did what they needed to do and it had a great outcome.”
The swimmers, who did not want to front media, sent a text message to the lifesavers, saying they endured a “stressful” 24 hours following the incident but were now resting and on the road to recovery.
“I cannot express my gratitude enough to those who saved our lives and were involved,“ the statement read.
“Yesterday could've been a very different outcome if it wasn’t for (the surf life saving) team.
“We are extremely grateful of those who saved our lives and made sure we came home safely.”
