State award eases lifesaver’s memories of rescue tragedy

Alex de Vos
An Anglesea life saver who tried to save two Indian students from drowning in the summer of 2007 has won Victorian Lifesaver of the Year.
Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club’s Lachlan Holbery-Morgan said he was “surprised but thrilled” to win Life Saving Victoria’s prestigious 2009 John Wishart Memorial Medal.
“It’s incredible. I was honoured to be nominated and I didn’t think I would win,” Mr Holbery-Morgan said.
The 25-year-old paramedic student said he had performed “lots” of individual and group rescues during his 17 years as a lifesaver but also enjoyed the “sporting and social side” of lifesaving.
He regarded the tragic double drowning at Hutt Gully, between Anglesea and Lorne, as one of his most significant experiences as a life saver.
“That was definitely a pretty awful situation,” he said.
“I’m involved in lots of rescues but fortunately most of them have a very happy ending.”
Mr Holybery-Morgan praised the work of fellow lifeguards in the attempted resuscitation of the Indian students.
“We work in teams of very efficient people and we all did our best,” he said.
Mr Holbery-Morgan said he loved the thrill of his sport despite the immense pressure on life savers in some situations.
“When you’ve got a mass rescue, the adrenaline really starts pumping,” he said.
“It’s a high-pressure role but it’s important to understand that you can’t always save everyone – you just have to do your best.”
Mr Holbery-Morgan will represent Victoria at Australian Life Saving Championships in Perth this month.