As Swimmers Escaped Attack, Popular Photo Captures Beach Patrol Dashing ‘All Out’ Towards the Scene.

Alexandra Ching, a permanent resident of Bondi, views the iconic coast as her own backyard. On that fateful Sunday evening, she, similar to other others in the area, noticed loud noises ringing out through the community.

“We all thought the same, but I considered it was daylight and there was nothing visible,” she explains. Stepping out of her home, she observed people “pouring up Bondi Road”. The faces they wore made it clear something was wrong.

While standing on the road, conversing with a pair who had run up the hill still dripping wet, she became aware of someone approaching behind her. This turned out to be a beach patrol officer, running at full speed to Bondi unshod from the nearby Tamarama beach – about 1.5km – while holding a defibrillator.

“I heard someone say ‘excuse me’, and when I spun around I just saw this blur of blue,” she recounts. “He was zooming past. It was just him heading in the direction that the crowd was trying to flee, and hauling that sizeable pack and without footwear … He was sprinting at something that certainly every fibre in your being would signal you to go in the other direction.

“Absolutely no pause, but just totally pedal to the metal running.”

A Powerful Moment of Heroism During Tragedy

The image taken by Ching of the rescuer, since identified as Jackson Doolan, was widely shared as among numerous acts of courage in the following of the terror attack.

Andy Reid, a second beach safety officer, explained that Doolan, referred to as “Jacko”, sprinted from Tamarama beach to assist the other members at Bondi, as well as to work with other rescuers, law enforcement and medical teams treating dozens of those hurt.

Collective Outpouring and Support

Doolan’s story was just one of many to emerge from the community, with the beach facility beside the site of the violence serving as a temporary hospital. Reports indicate that other team members were also seen taking action, for instance going into the surf to save people needing help.

Following the tragedy, comments of gratitude circulated widely. A social media message expressed thanks for the individuals who showed that “compassion will always conquer evil”.

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

“We are grateful all for your supportive sentiments and encouragement. We are touched by the kindness for our responders,” the group wrote. “In time, we will tell our tales in the hope that it helps those impacted.”

Council Praise

Waverley council, the local authority that oversees many professional beach safety officers, said that the staff rose to the occasion from the instant the shooting started through to late that evening.

“There have been so many emotional accounts, but the viral image of Jackson Doolan, racing from Tamarama to Bondi with a defibrillator so he could help preserve life is incredible,” said a mayor.

“The team show dedication every day in keeping our internationally renowned coastlines safe for surfers and swimmers, but what we witnessed on Sunday should be celebrated.

“As we grieve and come to terms with the atrocity of this heinous tragedy, I think it is crucial that we focus on just how much good we have observed in the face of such darkness.”