While Sunbathers Ran From Violence, Popular Image Depicts Beach Patrol Sprinting ‘Full Speed’ Towards the Scene.

Alexandra Ching, a lifelong local of Bondi, has always considered the famous shoreline as her own backyard. On that fateful weekend night, she, like many neighbors, heard pops ringing out through the community.

“That was the initial assumption, but I thought it was daylight and no one could see them,” she explains. Exiting her residence, she observed people “flooding up Bondi Road”. The looks they wore made it clear a crisis was unfolding.

While standing on the avenue, speaking to a couple who had hurried up the hill still dripping wet, she noticed someone approaching behind her. This turned out to be a lifeguard, sprinting in the direction of Bondi barefoot from the nearby Tamarama beach – about 1.5km – while carrying a defibrillator.

“I heard someone say ‘excuse me’, and when I spun around I spotted this blur of blue,” Ching describes. “He was just flying past. He was the only one heading in the opposite way that everyone was trying to escape from, carrying that big kit and barefoot … He was sprinting at something that certainly every part of you would instruct you to move in the other direction.

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

A Powerful Moment of Heroism In the Wake of Crisis

The image Ching captured of the lifeguard, later named as Jackson Doolan, rapidly circulated as one of many moments of courage in the following of the terror attack.

Andy Reid, another lifeguard, explained that Doolan, referred to as “Jacko”, sprinted from Tamarama beach to support the other members at Bondi, as well as to aid other rescuers, police and medical teams attending to dozens of victims.

Local Reaction and Support

Doolan’s account was part of a broader narrative to emerge from the local area, with the patrol base adjacent to the scene of the attack transforming into a makeshift treatment center. It was shared that other team members were also seen helping out, such as going into the ocean to assist people in distress.

After the tragedy, messages of support flooded in. A social media message shared thanks for the individuals who demonstrated that “compassion will always conquer evil”.

The team of beach patrol issued a message, noting they were “still trying to comprehend what happened”.

“Thank you all for your supportive sentiments and encouragement. We are overwhelmed by the care shown towards our responders,” the organization commented. “When ready, we will share our stories in the belief that it helps those involved.”

Official Commendation

Waverley council, the governing body that oversees many professional lifeguards, said that the crew performed exceptionally from the instant the violence commenced right into late that night.

“We have heard so many emotional accounts, but the popular photo of Jackson Doolan, sprinting from Tamarama to Bondi with a defibrillator so he could help preserve life is remarkable,” said a local official.

“The team show selflessness every day in keeping our iconic beaches protected for the public, but what we witnessed on that day should be highly praised.

“During this time of sorrow and grapple with the terror of this violent and horrific tragedy, I think it is vital that we reflect on just how much light we have observed in the face of such evil.”