The accident happened in Sydney on a beach known for big waves.
The near miss happened at Maroubra beach in Sydney. PDO
A group of Ironman competitors rescued a group of 25 swimmers at Maroubra Beach in Sydney, Australia on Sunday.
An Australian TV channel reporting on the matter 7News according to the situation started when the competitions of the fourth round of the triathlon’s Ironman and Ironwoman series had ended and the medal distributions had been completed.
According to the TV channel, the athletes noticed a large group of swimmers struggling about 100 meters from the coast and 300 meters from the competition area.
– A group of about twenty athletes and coaches instinctively ran to get their surfboards and lifebuoys before they headed into the water to help, 7News writes.
The group managed to calm those in distress and gathered them to wait for the rescue boats to arrive. All were rescued to shore without injury.
Lana Rogerswho won the Ironwoman series, was one of the athletes who helped save the civilians.
– Fortunately, we were all still here. About 20 athletes helped save the day and there were about 20 or 30 people (in trouble). I was there too and luckily we got to the beach safely with all the people, Rogers told 7News after the incident.
– This is classic Maroubra beach – the water moves fast and I think people go swimming thinking they’re going to stay in one place, but they don’t. The water was moving very fast and the current was just taking them out to sea, he continued.
Maroubra is famous for its continuous big waves, which is why the beach is popular with surfers.