While Sunbathers Fled Danger, Viral Photo Shows Lifeguard Sprinting ‘Full Speed’ Towards the Scene.

Alexandra Ching, someone who has spent her entire life as resident of Bondi, views the renowned coast as her back yard. On that particular weekend evening, she, similar to other others in the area, detected loud noises echoing across the suburb.

“That was the initial assumption, but I thought it was too light and no one could see them,” Ching recounts. Stepping out of her residence, she observed people “pouring up Bondi Road”. The looks on display told her something was wrong.

As she stood on the avenue, speaking to a duo who had run up the incline still dripping wet, she noticed someone approaching at her rear. This turned out to be a beach patrol officer, dashing towards Bondi barefoot from the nearby Tamarama beach – roughly 1.5km – while carrying a medical device.

“I heard someone say ‘excuse me’, and as I turned I spotted this streak in blue,” she recounts. “He was simply racing by. He was alone running in the direction that the crowd was trying to escape from, and hauling that big kit and barefoot … He’s running towards something that certainly every part of you would instruct you to run in the opposite direction.

“Without a second thought, but just fully maximum effort running.”

A Symbol of Bravery During Chaos

The photograph Ching captured of the lifeguard, now known to be Jackson Doolan, was widely shared as among numerous moments of courage in the wake of the tragic event.

Andy Reid, another lifeguard, says that Doolan, called “Jacko”, ran from Tamarama beach to assist the rest of his team at Bondi, as well as to work with emergency personnel, law enforcement and ambulance crews attending to dozens of victims.

Local Reaction and Support

Doolan’s account was a single example among several to be shared by the local area, with the patrol base next to the location of the incident serving as a temporary hospital. Reports indicate that other team members were also seen responding bravely, including going into the water to assist people needing help.

After the attack, statements of support flooded in. One post shared appreciation for the lifeguards who demonstrated that “compassion will always triumph over evil”.

The team of beach patrol published a statement, saying they were “processing what transpired”.

“Our thanks go out to all for your thoughtful messages and solidarity. We are deeply moved by the compassion for our team,” the organization commented. “Eventually, we will recount our experiences in the belief that it helps those involved.”

Local Government Praise

Waverley council, the administrative organization that oversees many permanent lifeguards, stated that the team rose to the occasion from the moment the violence commenced until late that night.

“There have been so many moving stories, but the widely-circulated photo of Jackson Doolan, sprinting from Tamarama to Bondi with a defibrillator so he could help preserve life is extraordinary,” said a council representative.

“The team exhibit selflessness every day in maintaining the safety of our internationally renowned beaches safe for the public, but what we witnessed on that evening should be celebrated.

“While we mourn and process the horror of this violent and horrific terrorist attack, I think it is important that we focus on just how much light we have observed in the presence of such hatred.”