As Sunbathers Fled Violence, Viral Photo Shows Lifeguard Sprinting ‘Pedal to the Metal’ In the Direction of the Scene.

Alexandra Ching, someone who has spent her entire life as inhabitant of Bondi, has always considered the iconic coast as her back yard. On that fateful weekend night, she, along with numerous local residents, heard cracking sounds ringing out around the suburb.

“That was the initial assumption, but I thought it was daylight and you couldn't spot any lights,” Ching recounts. She left her apartment, she observed people “streaming up Bondi Road”. The looks they wore told her a crisis was unfolding.

As she stood on the street, speaking to a duo who had run up the hill still dripping wet, she noticed someone approaching behind her. The person was a beach patrol officer, dashing towards Bondi without shoes from the adjacent Tamarama beach – about 1.5km – while transporting a medical device.

“I heard someone say ‘excuse me’, and turning my head I only caught a glimpse of this blur of blue,” she recounts. “He was zooming past. He was the only one running in the path that the crowd was trying to flee, and hauling that big kit and barefoot … He was sprinting at something that surely every instinct would instruct you to run in the other direction.

“Just no hesitation, but just totally maximum effort racing.”

A Symbol of Heroism In the Wake of Crisis

The image that Ching snapped of the lifeguard, since identified as Jackson Doolan, was widely shared as among numerous instances of valour in the aftermath of the terror attack.

Andy Reid, another beach safety officer, noted that Doolan, known as “Jacko”, sprinted from Tamarama beach to assist the other members at Bondi, as well as to aid emergency personnel, police and medical teams treating numerous victims.

Collective Outpouring and Solidarity

Doolan’s account was a single example among several to be shared by the local area, with the lifeguard clubhouse next to the location of the incident becoming a impromptu medical station. Accounts show that colleagues were also seen responding bravely, for instance entering the water to assist people who were struggling.

Following the attack, messages of gratitude flooded in. An online statement shared appreciation for the lifeguards who showed that “kindness will always overcome hatred”.

The squad of lifeguards published a communication, explaining they were “still trying to comprehend what happened”.

“Our thanks go out to all for your thoughtful messages and support. We are overwhelmed by the care shown towards our responders,” the group wrote. “Eventually, we will recount our experiences in the hope that it helps those affected.”

Council Commendation

Waverley council, the governing body that hires many professional beach safety officers, stated that the crew rose to the occasion from the instant the shooting began until late that night.

“People have shared so many emotional stories, but the viral picture of Jackson Doolan, running from Tamarama to Bondi with a defibrillator so he could help save lives is extraordinary,” said a local official.

“These individuals exhibit altruism every day in ensuring our internationally renowned beaches protected for the public, but what we witnessed on Sunday should be celebrated.

“During this time of sorrow and process the atrocity of this heinous tragedy, I think it is crucial that we focus on just how much light we have witnessed in the midst of such evil.”