A Warrnambool man will be nominated for a bravery award after he saved a drowning woman at the Breakwater.
The man, who would like to remain anonymous, saw the woman in the sea just south of the surf club on Thursday afternoon.
The man realised the woman, aged in her 50s, was in trouble and dragged her from the water.
Ambulance Victoria team manager Tim Farser said the woman was unconscious and unresponsive.
“He didn’t think she was breathing or had a pulse,” he said.
The man called triple-0 and began CPR on the woman.
“Five paramedics attended and began resuscitation and the woman responded before being transferred to the Warrnambool Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition,” Mr Farser said.
“He has seen something and realised it’s a person and dragged her out.”
“I think he should be commended. He has gone out by himself, it was quite windy, there was a swell and the tide was coming in.
“He has done really well.
“He should be highly commended for what he has done.
“He was quite calm. He knew what he was doing.
“His CPR was effective. He’s done a really good job.
“Given the time out in the water to when paramedics arrived, those few minutes do make a difference.”
Mr Farser said the man’s actions would be referred to Ambulance Victoria’s hero commendation program.
He said his actions also highlighted the importance of basic first aid and CPR training.
Mr Farser said Warrnambool paramedics averaged a response time of under eight minutes which was a good time, but who knew what could happen in those eight minutes.
“Who knows what might have happened if he hadn’t of seen her?” he said.
“This man wants to remain anonymous but it is important that people know there are people out in the community doing this sort of thing.”
Mr Farser also praised the local paramedics who were proud to help the community.
“There was a lot of wind and obviously sand and they worked quite feverishly to resuscitate the woman.”
