2025 Coastal Bravery Awards Ceremony
On 8th August 2025, Surf Life Saving WA honoured 37 individuals at the 2025 Coastal Bravery Awards ceremony.
Over 180 guests gathered for the ceremony, which marks the sixth bi-annual event.
The Gold Medallion for Exceptional Bravery is the highest honour, awarded to any person who performs a conspicuous and selfless act of exceptional bravery in circumstances of extreme peril.
Geoffrey Gillmore & Toby Webster
7th January 2024
Out on the water at Rottnest Island, both Geoff and Toby were witnesses to the tragic accident that saw a seaplane crash into the ocean off Rottnest Island soon after take-off.
Arriving quickly on the scene, without hesitation, each individual made the brave decision to enter the water, despite the rough conditions and the danger of debris from the crash.
While they were able to assist several passengers from the plane and help them to safety before the arrival on-scene of Emergency Services, tragically, multiple lives were lost that day.
Both Mr Gillmore and Mr Webster displayed exceptional bravery, with little regard for their own safety, as they rendered assistance.
Brooklyn Harris, Matilda Harris, Rick Harris & Leonard Limberg
14th January 2025
On a camping trip in January this year, the Harris family and their friends were exploring the coastline near Bremer Bay when their youngest son and his friend went in for a swim at Native Dog Beach. Within minutes, the children were caught up in the strong current and swept out to sea. Neither Rick nor his son, Brooklyn, nor Brooklyn’s friend Leonard, hesitated in going in after them.
Battling the current, they were able to assist the children to safety; however, in the rough conditions, Rick, Brooklyn and Leonard got swept further out to sea. Rick began to struggle. Despite being fatigued himself, Brooklyn didn’t hesitate to go to his father’s aid. Despite the enormous effort and danger to their own lives, Brooklyn, Leonard and another beachgoer managed to bring Rick back to the shore with the help of a small inflatable raft.
Rick’s daughter Matilda had sprinted nearly 500 metres up the beach to where they came ashore. Without hesitation, she
and Brooklyn began performing multiple rounds of CPR. As exhaustion set in, Leonard and family friend Clayton stepped in to assist, continuing the life-saving efforts until the paramedics arrived.
David Stockdale
14th March 2025
Enjoying an afternoon walk at Greens Pool, Denmark, Mr Stockdale was walking on the rocks when his daughter noticed someone taking the life ring from its post. Without hesitation, he stripped off, grabbed his goggles and raced down to the beach.
Taking the life ring, Mr Stockdale entered the water to go to the aid of a man who had become caught in a rip and was struggling in the rough conditions. He repeatedly attempted to reach the individual, losing sight of him as he dipped below the surface.
Battling the swell and with exhaustion setting in, he had to make the difficult decision to return to the shore alone, knowing that he would not have been able to do so with the man in tow.
While tragically the man was unable to be saved, Mr Stockdale showed no hesitation, placing himself in harm’s way in his efforts to lend assistance.
Lifesavers Award
The Silver Medallion for Bravery – Lifesavers Award, is awarded to any member of Surf Life Saving Western Australia who performs a conspicuous and selfless act of bravery on or off the West Australian coast, recognising the application of important lifesaving skills learnt through their participation in surf life saving.
Emile Mercier
4th March 2024
As a Rescue Diver on the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, Mr Mercier was on duty when the service was tasked to a rescue off Carnac Island, where a man was seeking refuge on a rocky ledge of the island.
With strong winds and large swell to contend with, Mr Mercier dropped from the helicopter into the ocean and swam to the ledge. Dodging shallow reef and jagged rocky outcrops, he was repeatedly battered against the rock face in his attempts to reach the man.
Upon reaching the terrified man, he negotiated language barriers to secure a flotation device to him and coaxed him into the water, where they were able to be towed to safety.
Russell Price & Constable Barbarah White
4th April 2023
At home one afternoon, and hearing shouting from the beach, Mr Price headed down to observe, meeting up with Constable Barbarah White at the water’s edge.
Despite poor visibility, they noted two large individuals struggling in the water.
Without hesitation, Ms White headed into the water while Mr Price returned home to retrieve a board for assistance. Ms White retrieved one of the men and returned him to shore while Mr Price paddled out to the second individual, who was now face down and semi-conscious.
Struggling to get the fully clothed individual on the board, Mr Price was joined by Ms White. Between them, they were able to support the individual and use the current to help return them to shore, where the individuals were transported to the hospital for further care.
While Mr Price is a patrolling member of Mandurah Surf Life Saving Club, and Ms White is a trained Police Officer, they demonstrated bravery and selflessness, willingly entering the water to save the individuals.
Emergency Services Award
The Silver Medallion for Bravery – Emergency Services Award, is awarded to any member of a recognised Emergency Response Unit who, in the fulfilment of their duties, performs a conspicuous and selfless act of bravery on the West Australian coast.
Constable Kelsey Frank, Senior Constable Paul Walton and Detective Constable Nic Comito.
15th December 2024
On a Sunday evening, Police received a call that an adult individual suffering a mental health episode and speaking of self-harm had jumped into the Carnarvon Fascine and swum a significant distance offshore.
It was a dark night with poor visibility, strong winds, and choppy waters; however, observing the individual struggling to stay afloat, without hesitation, the Officers made the decision to enter the water.
Under challenging conditions, and despite the individual resisting help, they were able to negotiate with and eventually coax them back to safety.
The actions of the Officers who went above and beyond ensured a safe outcome.
Constable Fletcher Kneale, Constable Jacqui Price & Constable Sean Kendall
15th March 2025
It was around 2:30 am when Police received a call from an individual suffering a mental health episode, threatening self-harm by way of drowning.
Constables Price and Kendall were first on scene and, using their hand torches, were able to locate the individual in the water. Without hesitation, they entered the water to provide aid.
Further patrols arrived and assisted by holding up their torches, and they were joined in the water shortly after by Constable Kneale.
Despite the minimal visibility, rough conditions, and large waves, the Officers were successfully able to rescue the individual and bring her safely to shore and to waiting paramedics.
The Officers displayed the highest level of commitment and dedication, selflessly going to the aid of the individual.
Citizens Award
The Silver Medallion for Bravery – Citizens Award, is awarded to any person who performs a conspicuous and selfless act of bravery on the West Australian coast.
Mark Clark
27 August 2020
It was a brisk winter’s day at Bunbury Back Beach when Mr Clark observed three teenagers caught in a rip just north of the Surf Life Saving Club. With no lifesaving services operational at the time, others on the beach had attempted to rescue the individuals but to no avail.
Acting quickly, Mr Clark commandeered a rescue board from the nearby surf life saving club and headed out into the water. Fighting the large swell, he made his way out to the quickly fatiguing individuals, bringing each of them back to shore safely.
Thanks to Mr Clarke’s courageous efforts, all the teenagers involved were returned safely to shore.
Peter Moore
22nd May 2022
Driving along the coast near the Penguin Island sandbar, Mr Moore noticed two boys in the water, chasing an inflatable kayak that had been swept up in the winds. As he continued to watch, the pair started to struggle.
Commandeering a small kiteboard from onlookers, despite the strong winds and rough waters, he paddled out, heading for the individual who appeared in the most immediate danger, struggling to keep his head above the water.
Towing the individual back to safety, Mr Moore handed him off to onlookers to provide aid before returning for the second, who was clinging to the kayak of the Parks Ranger who had come to lend assistance. Noting they were making no headway, battling his own fatigue, Mr Moore was able to support the boy on his board and return them to safety.
Luke Baldock
5th March 2023
Walking near the mouth of Donnelly River, Mr Baldock spotted a man and two children in a dinghy. The sandbar that usually separated the rivermouth from the sea had broken, creating a strong rip current that was pulling the boat out, the turbulent waters eventually flipping it, tipping its occupants into the water.
Without hesitation, Mr Baldock entered the water, heading straight out to the family’s aid.
Assisting one child to safety, he returned to the water, swimming out to the dinghy, which was being dragged under the water. Ducking under, he was able to free the second child from underneath the flipped vessel, swimming them both back to safety.
Mr Baldock undoubtedly saved both children that day, demonstrating bravery and selflessness for a family in trouble.
Oscar Topham
30th November 2024
At Rabbits Beach, in Yallingup, Mr Topham noticed a young boy caught in a rip, signalling that he was in distress. Despite the rough conditions, without hesitation, Mr Topham entered the water to go to his aid.
With no flotation device, he held the teenager, keeping him calm and afloat until further help arrived. By the time another beachgoer had paddled out to them, the young boy was barely able to keep his head above water, and is unlikely to have survived the incident were it not for Mr Topham’s actions.
Jamie Wendt & Joseph Ashford
17th December 2024
On a December day, Police were called to an incident at Hamersley Pool, in North Beach, where a man was reported to be in the water and in distress, calling out for help.
At the location and observing an elderly gentleman struggling in the water, Mr Wendt and Mr Ashford made the decision to enter the water to go to his aid. With the conditions described as extremely rough with choppy waves, together they swam out and brought the individual back to safety.
Reports stated that without the quick thinking and actions of the pair, the incident would likely have resulted in loss of life.
Claire Langley, Connor Morice, Blake Webb, Jamie Ferreo & Constable Caleb DeMunck
19th December 2024
A critical incident was unfolding at Glenfield Beach in Geraldton, where a 13-year-old boy who was snorkelling had not been seen for twenty minutes. The conditions were described as treacherous with strong winds, powerful currents, and significant swell.
With a number of people searching, the individual was eventually spotted in the water, at which point Mr Webb and off-duty police officers Ms Langley and Mr Morice entered the water to go to his aid.
The three of them swam out to the boy’s location and were able to get him onto some reef, where Mr Ferreo and Constable De Munck had joined the efforts and were able to secure him and get him safely back to shore and to waiting paramedics.
Their collective efforts in the face of challenging conditions ensured the safety of the young boy.
Francesca Cooke & Emily Lwin
2nd January 2025
Enjoying an afternoon at Bennion Beach, where they had assessed the conditions as too rough to go in, Ms Cooke and Ms Lwin were alerted by another beachgoer to swimmers in distress.
A couple of swimmers were struggling in a rip, and with the conditions unsafe to enter, other beachgoers were attempting to yell out instructions.
Despite the rough conditions, Ms Cooke and Ms Lwin made the courageous decision to go to the couple’s aid, separating to retrieve both swimmers.
Battling the difficult conditions, they successfully brought both swimmers safely back to shore, where, upon their arrival, Lifeguards administered first aid.
Tyler & Bailey Kent
10th January 2025
The brothers were enjoying body surfing and boogie boarding at City Beach when they heard two men, caught in a rip, calling out for help. Struggling in the current, the men were being dragged some distance from shore.
Without hesitation, Tyler swam out after the men while Bailey, on his board, also paddled out to help.
While they were able to bring one of the individuals back to shore safely, sadly the second individual could not be saved; however, the brothers are to be commended for their bravery and quick thinking, which undoubtedly prevented further tragedy.
The Bronze Medallion for Courage – Youth Award is awarded to any person under the age of 16 who performs a lifesaving act demonstrating courage on the West Australian coast or, in the case of a member of Surf Life Saving WA, where they may have used the skills learned through their participation in surf life saving, to perform an act demonstrating courage away from the coast.
Daniel Platel
7th September 2021
At just 15 years of age, Daniel, a member of Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club, applied his skills learned through Surf Life Saving to aid his group of friends at risk in a rip current.
The group were enjoying an evening swim at Scarborough Beach when they became caught in a rip. Using his lifesaving skills, Daniel was able to escape the rip; however, his friends began to panic and couldn’t escape.
One by one, Daniel swam out, bringing his friends back to the safety of the sandbank, until there was only one of them remaining in the water, and in serious trouble.
With exhaustion setting in, battling fatigue and the strength of the current, Daniel headed back out into the surf. Upon reaching his semi-conscious friend, he was able to navigate them back to shore, where he placed his friend in the recovery position and monitored him until the arrival of the paramedics. He then accompanied his friend to the hospital, remaining by his side until the arrival of family.
Austin Wyeth
10th October 2024
It was an October afternoon at Scarborough Beach when Austin and his dad witnessed two men struggling in a rip some 100 meters offshore.
Thirteen-year-old Austin ran to the nearby Surf Life Saving club, where he grabbed a rescue board, and then returned to the beach, promptly paddling out to assist the two men.
Assessing the situation, he took the weakest of the two, placing him on his rescue board and paddling back to shore before returning for the second man.
It was during his paddle back out that lifeguards arrived on a jet ski to assist the second man. However, were it not for Austin’s quick thinking, the situation could have been far worse.
A member of Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club, Austin applied his skills learned through Surf Life Saving to help the two men, and were it not for his quick thinking, the situation may well have ended differently.
Zoe Doyle
17th October 2024
Paddling and catching waves on her board at Scarborough Beach one afternoon, Zoe noticed an adult male in the surf, waving and calling out. Paddling over to check on him, she soon realised he was in trouble.
A member of Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club, Zoe had completed her Surf Rescue Certificate just four days earlier. Relying on her skills and knowing that they wouldn’t both fit on her junior board, Zoe encouraged the man to hold onto her board to stay afloat, and she swam beside him as they returned to shore.
At just 13 years of age, Zoe showed exceptional poise and composure, recognising the man was in danger and applying her skills to assist an adult in distress.
Coby Whitehead, Finn Boyer & Molly Colgan
9th December 2024
It was a December afternoon when Quinns Mindarie Surf Life Saving Club members Finn, Molly, and Coby arrived at Mullaloo Beach for training.
Heading down to the beach, they were alerted by beachgoers that people were in trouble in the water and needed assistance.
Without hesitation, Finn headed straight down and into the water, paddling out into the large swell. Cresting a wave, he spotted a young woman face down in the water. Reaching her side, she was able to grasp hold of his board. They were soon joined by Molly and Coby, who had also braved the conditions to aid in the rescue.
Using their knowledge of the surf, the group drifted behind the swell and out of the rip. Tackling the rough waves, they were able to return the woman safely to shore.
At just 14 years old, all three showed great courage, putting their surf skills to the test by going to the aid of the woman and undoubtedly saving a life.