Warrnambool man saves swimmer in trouble in Lady Bay

Warrnambool resident Brad McCosh and his wife Hayley had been for a swim at the main beach and were about to head home when they heard cries for help. 

"We heard a lady screaming down at The Flume, she was yelling out and waving her hands around and we looked in the water and saw her partner in there," Mr McCosh said. "He was waving and yelling out too and I said to Hails 'I reckon that bloke's drowning'."

Mr McCosh ran about 400 metres down the beach to where they were, while Mrs McCosh went to the surf club to ask for help and a woman called Triple 0.

"I got in and got him," Mr McCosh said. "He was in a bit of trouble and panicking a fair bit so I calmed him down and we treaded water for a couple of minutes while he calmed down."

Mr McCosh said the man looked to be aged in his 30s and he didn't appear to be from the area. 

"He could talk minimal English. He had a little bit of English and said 'help me'," he said.

Mr McCosh grabbed the man who he said was caught in an undertow, swimming to the side of it.

"He couldn't swim and I'd say he's got into an undertow and it's dragged him out a bit and he's started to panic," he said.  

"He was in a full T-shirt and board shorts. He shouldn't have been swimming there. It's just dangerous." 

Mr McCosh brought him to shore to the relief of the man's partner. 

"She was balling and he was pretty shaken up," Mr McCosh said. "Hayley's a midwife so she said 'are you right mate?' and he was fine. They were happy just sitting there. 

"By the time we walked up to the surf club, the police and fire brigade were on their way down. They were really quick."

Mr McCosh said he wouldn't hesitate if he saw someone in trouble in the future.

"I'd definitely go in there again," he said. "Another two minutes and he was going to be in a fair bit of trouble. She definitely couldn't help.

"Because I had 400 metres to run to get to him I had enough time to think - 'what am I going to do, how am I going to approach it' - and I was confident enough in getting out there to help him. 

"The last thing I wanted him to do was to drag me under with him. It was really lucky there wasn't much swell so there wasn't waves crashing over us time after time."

Mr McCosh said it was the second such incident in as many months with three holidaymakers from Melbourne having to be pulled from the water at Granny's Grave in January. 

Warrnambool Surf Lifesaving captain Justin Houlihan said it was a great effort and Mr McCosh was aware of his own ability in the water.

"I commend Brad on his actions which resulted in him saving the man," Mr Houlihan said. "He carried out a successful rescue and I'm sure the guy is indebted to him."

Mr Houlihan urged swimmers to think before entering the water and to never swim alone. 

"Stop at the water's edge. Look at the conditions for water movement, depth and wave size and make sure you make wise decisions as to whether to swim. 

"It's better to be safe than sorry."

Mr Houlihan said it was important to swim between the flags where possible and know the areas that are safe to swim in. 

Weekend lifeguard patrols continue at Warrnambool's main beach until Easter Monday. 

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