When Swimmers Ran From Attack, Popular Photo Shows Lifeguard Dashing ‘Full Speed’ Towards the Location.

Alexandra Ching, a permanent local of Bondi, has always considered the iconic coast as her own backyard. On that fateful weekend night, she, similar to other neighbors, heard cracking sounds reverberating across the neighbourhood.

“That was the initial assumption, but I considered it was still too bright and no one could see them,” she explains. She left her apartment, she saw people “pouring up Bondi Road”. The looks on display made it clear a crisis was unfolding.

While standing on the road, conversing with a duo who had run up the hill still dripping wet, she heard someone moving up at her rear. This turned out to be a lifeguard, dashing in the direction of Bondi without shoes from the neighbouring Tamarama beach – a distance of 1.5km – while holding a life-saving kit.

“I caught a voice saying ‘excuse me’, and when I spun around I just saw this blur of blue,” she recounts. “He was simply racing by. It was just him heading in the path that the crowd was trying to escape from, carrying that sizeable pack and unshod … He’s running towards something that certainly every instinct would signal you to go in the opposite direction.

“Absolutely no pause, but just totally full throttle running.”

An Iconic Image of Bravery In the Wake of Tragedy

The photo taken by Ching of the rescuer, since identified as Jackson Doolan, rapidly circulated as a prime example of acts of valour in the following of the terror attack.

Andy Reid, another beach safety officer, says that Doolan, known as “Jacko”, hurried from Tamarama beach to assist the remaining crew at Bondi, as well as to aid surf lifesavers, officers and medical teams attending to dozens of the injured.

Community Outpouring and Solidarity

Doolan’s account was a single example among several to emerge from the neighbourhood, with the beach facility beside the scene of the incident serving as a temporary hospital. Reports indicate that colleagues were also seen responding bravely, such as rushing into the ocean to save people who were struggling.

After the attack, messages of support circulated widely. A social media message expressed gratitude for the lifeguards who exhibited that “kindness will always overcome evil”.

The team of beach patrol published a statement, noting they were “still trying to comprehend what occurred”.

“Thank you all for your kind messages and solidarity. We are deeply moved by the care directed at our team,” the organization wrote. “When ready, we will tell our tales in the aim that it aids those affected.”

Council Commendation

Waverley council, the administrative organization that hires many full-time lifeguards, stated that the staff performed exceptionally from the instant the violence began right into late that evening.

“People have shared so many powerful stories, but the popular image of Jackson Doolan, running from Tamarama to Bondi with a AED so he could help preserve life is incredible,” said a mayor.

“The team demonstrate selflessness every day in ensuring our iconic coastlines protected for surfers and swimmers, but what we saw on that evening should be highly praised.

“As we grieve and process the horror of this brutal and barbaric tragedy, I think it is important that we consider just how much positivity we have witnessed in the midst of such hatred.”