While Swimmers Ran From Attack, Widely-Shared Picture Captures Lifeguard Sprinting ‘Full Speed’ In the Direction of the Location.

Alexandra Ching, a permanent resident of Bondi, has always considered the famous beach as her own backyard. On that fateful weekend evening, she, along with numerous others in the area, detected loud noises reverberating around the neighbourhood.

“We all thought the same, but I thought it was daylight and no one could see them,” Ching states. Stepping out of her residence, she witnessed people “pouring up Bondi Road”. The looks she saw made it clear something was wrong.

Positioned on the avenue, talking to a couple who had rushed up the slope in their swimwear, she became aware of someone coming up behind her. It was a rescuer, dashing in the direction of Bondi without shoes from the nearby Tamarama beach – roughly 1.5km – while holding a medical device.

“I heard someone say ‘excuse me’, and turning my head I just saw this streak in blue,” Ching describes. “He was just flying past. He was alone heading in the opposite way that the crowd was trying to get away from, and hauling that sizeable pack and unshod … He was sprinting towards something that certainly every fibre in your being would instruct you to go in the opposite direction.

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

A Powerful Moment of Bravery Amidst Tragedy

The image taken by Ching of the rescuer, since identified as Jackson Doolan, rapidly circulated as a prime example of moments of courage in the aftermath of the terror attack.

Andy Reid, a fellow lifeguard, explained that Doolan, referred to as “Jacko”, sprinted from Tamarama beach to support the other members at Bondi, as well as to help emergency personnel, officers and ambulance crews caring for dozens of the injured.

Local Outpouring and Solidarity

Doolan’s actions was just one of many to be shared by the neighbourhood, with the beach facility next to the location of the incident serving as a makeshift hospital. It was shared that colleagues were also seen helping out, such as rushing into the surf to assist people who were struggling.

After the tragedy, statements of support flooded in. An online statement expressed thanks for the lifeguards who demonstrated that “goodness will always conquer hatred”.

The group of lifeguards later shared a message, saying they were “processing what transpired”.

“Thank you all for your thoughtful words and solidarity. We are touched by the compassion directed at our personnel,” the team wrote. “In time, we will share our stories in the aim that it aids those involved.”

Local Government Recognition

Waverley council, the administrative organization that employs many permanent beach safety officers, said that the crew acted heroically from the moment the shooting commenced through to late that nighttime.

“People have shared so many emotional narratives, but the popular photo of Jackson Doolan, running from Tamarama to Bondi with a defibrillator so he could help preserve life is incredible,” said a council representative.

“These individuals show altruism every day in maintaining the safety of our world-famous beaches secure for visitors, but what we saw on Sunday should be celebrated.

“As we grieve and grapple with the atrocity of this violent and horrific terrorist attack, I think it is crucial that we reflect on just how much light we have seen in the midst of such hatred.”