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IT was a case of being in the right place at the right time when Sydneysider Adriaan van der Wallen stopped for a swim at Tuncurry Rockpool with his family on Easter Saturday.
It seemed like any other day at the beach but no one could have guessed the dramatic series of events that would ensue at the notorious swimming spot.
The 47-year-old Avalon resident was holidaying in the Great Lakes with his wife and three children when they decided to go for one last swim at Tuncurry before heading home.
It was just after noon when Adriaan took his daughter’s six foot nipper board off the roof of the car to muck around in the shallows with his kids when disaster struck.
A gully of water quickly washed into the corner of the beach and Mr van der Wallen could see 12 Indian tourists struggling against a strong tidal surge and being swept out into deeper water.
“It was going out really quickly, it was super fast,” he explained.
“I think it would have been about waist deep where they were because when that surge came in it got them head high and swept them out.
“There were about eight adults and four children. I watched it go out and saw some of the kids go completely under.
“In that moment I’m not sure where my kids were or what my wife was doing; I just grabbed the board and ran.”
“Two women were screaming but they were too far away so I told them to try and get over to me. I’m a confident swimmer but there was just so many of them."
- Adriaan van der Wallen.
A member of the Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club for 31 years, Mr van der Wallen knows all too well the perils of the ocean and his instincts immediately sprung into action.
Paddling fast, Mr van der Wallen approached the group and began instructing men, women and children to grab hold of the small board.
“The water was brown from all the rain and I remember grabbing some of the kids by the hair and getting them on the board and telling them to grab hold of the ropes on it,” he explained.
“Two women were screaming but they were too far away so I told them to try and get over to me.
“I’m a confident swimmer but there was just so many of them. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to save all of them.
“When the women got to me panic had set in and one of them jumped onto the board and flipped it. I got the board back and it was just a matter of keeping them calm and focusing on getting them safely back to shore.”
While the dramatic rescue took place, Mr van der Wallen’s wife Kirsty yelled through the crowd on the beach for someone to assist her husband. Soon after, a man with a board ran down and took to the water.
The man managed to get the three remaining adults safely back to shore, Mr van der Wallen said.
“I’m not sure who he was but I just remember paddling back with nine people clinging to the small board, hitting the ground and thinking ‘thank god’.
If it wasn’t for his daughter’s $80 board and the assistance of a stranger Mr van der Wallen said he’s sure the outcome would have been entirely different.
“It’s just a miracle that I had that,” he said.
“I knew there was no chance of me rescuing them without a board. That board is the best investment I have ever made.
“I remember seeing the family all sitting on the beach catching their breath. They looked so relieved. One of the men said to me: “I am so overwhelmed, thank you so much, you saved our lives.”
Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club captain Tom Rees has nominated Mr van der Wallen for the Local Volunteer Lifesaving Bravery Awards for his efforts in the local rescue.
There have been several similar incidents at the Tuncurry Rockpool over the years with Great Lakes Council increasing warning signage and conducting dredging in an attempt to make it safer. The Advocate has contacted Great Lakes Council for comment about this latest incident and the current status of the pool and is awaiting a response.
