The Eurobodalla is quickly gaining a reputation for being the home of brave beach rescues, with a South Coast teen the latest to put his own life at risk to save another’s.
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Fourteen-year-old Matthew Goddard has been recognised with the Surf Life Saving NSW Rescue of the Month Award for his courageous rescue of a swimmer caught in a rip at Broulee Beach in March.
It was about lunch time on Sunday, March 26, when the Broulee Surfers surf lifesaver was board training when he observed a 25-year-old man struggling in 2-3 metre waves.
“I was on patrol and the swell was pretty big, so I thought I would go out for some board training,” Matthew told Surf Life Saving NSW.
“I saw a man struggling in a rip and straight away I thought he needed some help. So I paddled over to him and got him to hold onto my board so he could catch his breath because he was knackered and could barely breathe.”
Despite the man weighing 90kgs and being over six foot, Matthew helped him onto the board and paddled back to shore.
“When I saw him, I thought he was just a little bit bigger than me, so I thought it would be pretty easy. But the second I got him on the board, I was thinking, this man is much bigger than me and it might cause some problems,” he said.
I saw a man struggling in a rip and straight away I thought he needed some help.
- Matthew Goddard
Matthew said it was reassuring to come to shore and be aided by his fellow volunteers, including his own father, Craig.
The swimmer told lifesavers that if it wasn’t for Matthew, he would have drowned in the dangerous surf.
“When I was rescuing him, the last thing I thought about was receiving the NSW Rescue of the Month Award,” Matt said.
“I’m very proud.”
The Surf Life Saving NSW Rescue of the Month Award is given to a lifesaver or lifeguard involved in an outstanding rescue. This award aims to recognise excellence in lifesaving and service delivery.
As the recipient of the March award, Matthew will be in the running for the Surf Life Saving NSW Rescue of the Year Award.
