Alexandra Ching, a lifelong resident of Bondi, describes the famous beach as her back yard. On that particular Sunday evening, she, like many others in the area, detected pops reverberating through the community.
“We all thought the same, but I reasoned it was too light and there was nothing visible,” she explains. Stepping out of her apartment, she saw people “flooding up Bondi Road”. The looks they wore made it clear trouble had occurred.
As she stood on the road, conversing with a duo who had hurried up the slope still dripping wet, she heard someone coming up from behind. The person was a beach patrol officer, sprinting in the direction of Bondi unshod from the nearby Tamarama beach – roughly 1.5km – while carrying a life-saving kit.
“I heard someone say ‘excuse me’, and turning my head I just saw this streak in blue,” Ching describes. “He was simply racing by. It was just him moving in the direction that all the others was trying to escape from, and hauling that big kit and without footwear … He’s running into something that surely every instinct would instruct you to move in the other direction.
“Just no hesitation, but just completely full throttle sprinting.”
An Iconic Image of Heroism During Crisis
The photograph Ching captured of the lifeguard, since identified as Jackson Doolan, quickly spread as among numerous instances of courage in the following of the terror attack.
Andy Reid, a fellow beach safety officer, noted that Doolan, called “Jacko”, hurried from Tamarama beach to back up the remaining crew at Bondi, as well as to help surf lifesavers, law enforcement and ambulance crews attending to dozens of the injured.
Local Response and Support
Doolan’s story was just one of many to be shared by the community, with the beach facility adjacent to the scene of the violence transforming into a temporary medical station. Reports indicate that colleagues were also seen taking action, such as rushing into the water to save people needing help.
In the days after the tragedy, messages of gratitude were shared. A social media message expressed appreciation for the responders who showed that “kindness will always triumph over hatred”.
The group of beach patrol later shared a message, noting they were “processing what happened”.
“We are grateful all for your supportive messages and encouragement. We are overwhelmed by the compassion shown towards our personnel,” the organization stated. “Eventually, we will share our stories in the belief that it helps those involved.”
Local Government Recognition
Waverley council, the governing body that hires many professional lifeguards, remarked that the staff acted heroically from the second the shooting commenced right into late that nighttime.
“People have shared so many emotional narratives, but the widely-circulated picture of Jackson Doolan, racing from Tamarama to Bondi with a AED so he could help preserve life is remarkable,” said a council representative.
“The team exhibit altruism every day in maintaining the safety of our world-famous shores protected for surfers and swimmers, but what we saw on Sunday should be celebrated.
“During this time of sorrow and process the terror of this heinous terrorist attack, I think it is vital that we reflect on just how much light we have observed in the presence of such evil.”
