1
00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:04,680
OSHER GUNSBERG: On Bondi Rescue...

2
00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,720
..an entire family caught in a rip.

3
00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:09,920
Everyone was frantic.

4
00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:11,240
Yeah, when you're ready!

5
00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,360
Then a man falls from the cliffs.

6
00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,560
We want to get to this person
as quick as possible.

7
00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:22,800
And on the other side of the world,
Whippet's greatest challenge.

8
00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:25,160
You're just a tiny speck
in the ocean.

9
00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:28,080
It was a real possibility
that I wouldn't make it.

10
00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,240
# Take me back to the sweet times

11
00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:34,920
# The hot nights

12
00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,200
# Everything's gonna be alright

13
00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:38,720
# In the summertime

14
00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,880
# Baby, in the summertime

15
00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,000
# That is where I'll be. #

16
00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,880
Lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers
have been patrolling Bondi

17
00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,480
for more than 100 years.

18
00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,320
In days gone by,

19
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,640
the belt and reel was the most
effective lifesaving device.

20
00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:08,880
Surf boats played a part,
but were slow to launch

21
00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:10,560
and hard to handle.

22
00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:17,680
But one innovation has transformed
surf rescue more than any other.

23
00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,840
The importance and the value
a jet ski makes to our team

24
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,720
is second to none.

25
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,520
Once that's in the water, it's like
you have an extra three lifeguards.

26
00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:31,240
Jet skis can go as fast
as 100 kilometres an hour

27
00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,760
and travel long distances,

28
00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,120
with an added sled
that can rescue multiple patients.

29
00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:38,640
Alright, jump off, boys!

30
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:43,920
But weighing in at half a ton,
a jet ski is not to be messed with.

31
00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,640
On a bleak day at Bondi,
the beach is empty.

32
00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:57,840
For lifeguards,

33
00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,920
it's the perfect opportunity
for a training session.

34
00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,000
Tommy was a lifeguard 20 years ago

35
00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,880
and only recently joined
the Bondi team,

36
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,040
but he's never used a jet ski
in the surf.

37
00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,640
These days, the jet skis
are just so much more powerful,

38
00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:16,720
manoeuvrable.

39
00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:18,200
I need to learn pretty fast.

40
00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,520
Tommy's instructor is
more than 30 years younger.

41
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,480
Chase has been riding jet skis
since he was a teenager.

42
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,160
Tommy is very skilled
at what he does.

43
00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,640
He's an ocean paddler
and professional at it.

44
00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:33,680
He hasn't done much time
on a jet ski, though,

45
00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:34,760
which is a lot different.

46
00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:35,920
It's very foreign to him.

47
00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,280
So for him to go out there
today in these conditions,

48
00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:39,600
it's a learning curve.

49
00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,960
The Golden Rule on the jet ski,
number one,

50
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,720
you just never stand up
when you're punching through waves.

51
00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:50,280
Strike one.

52
00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,800
Number two, never approach a wave
at an angle,

53
00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,320
You'll fall off and roll.

54
00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,400
Strike two.

55
00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,960
And number three, never get
something stuck up the impeller,

56
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,240
which is inside the jet ski

57
00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,120
just because it will lock up
the whole engine

58
00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:06,880
and you won't be able to
drive it anymore.

59
00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:09,720
Jet skis and seaweed
just do not mix.

60
00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,520
Tommy drives straight through
a patch of seaweed.

61
00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,240
The engine stalls.

62
00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,480
Strike three.

63
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:23,440
So I hit the waves and come down
and landed on my neck on the...

64
00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:24,880
..on the handlebars.

65
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,000
Tommy's training session has done
more than damage his pride.

66
00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,720
I can't talk properly.

67
00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,040
'Cause I... (TALKS CROAKILY)

68
00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:39,360
Are you alright?
Yeah.

69
00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,360
(ALL LAUGH)

70
00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:49,240
Yeah, look, it's funny now,
but at the time, obviously, it hurt

71
00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,880
because I, you know,
face planted the ski.

72
00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,560
CHASE: Yeah. Definitely feel for
the old boy.

73
00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,840
He tried his hardest,
and that's all you can do.

74
00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:01,880
Gotta put in the time
and learn how to roll

75
00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,520
and roll back over a few times
before you get it.

76
00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,320
Picture perfect Bondi.

77
00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,640
The crowds are back.

78
00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:17,120
Hop on the back!

79
00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,960
Glick patrols the reefs
with the jet ski.

80
00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,640
So, it was, like, the perfect
beach day.

81
00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,120
The waves are up, the water's warm.

82
00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,400
But that being said, you can't
let your guard down ever.

83
00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:40,360
Big wave just came out of nowhere
and I timed it really badly and...

84
00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,400
Ohh, Glick!
Oh, no!

85
00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,640
..before I knew it,
it just flipped.

86
00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:52,200
I tumbled under a wave.
It was a pretty big wave.

87
00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,320
A capsized jet ski is a serious
safety hazard

88
00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,520
to lifeguards and swimmers.

89
00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,120
It's a really heavy
piece of machinery.

90
00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:18,360
Yeah. All good.

91
00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,760
When I popped up, like, I didn't
actually realise what happened,

92
00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:23,880
so I was very fortunate.

93
00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:25,880
It could have just knocked me out.

94
00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,080
I could have had
a lot worse bruises,

95
00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,480
but the only bruise
was my ego that day.

96
00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:36,560
Ready?
Yep.

97
00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:38,080
One, two, three. Go.

98
00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:44,760
So, gotta get back up on the ski
and give it another crack.

99
00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,920
I think his pride's a little bit
burnt, but he's alright, mate.

100
00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:01,480
It happens.

101
00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,240
I've rolled it a few times.
Yeah, just one of those things.

102
00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:06,400
First priority is making sure
Glick was alright,

103
00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,640
which he was,
and just helping roll the ski.

104
00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,480
Scary. I got caught out.

105
00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:18,760
Could have been bad.

106
00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,360
You smashed it, though, bro.
It happens.

107
00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:23,680
I'm just glad you're OK, mate.

108
00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:25,440
I love you, mate.

109
00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:26,960
I come runnin', bro.

110
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:28,880
I don't know how you
got there so quick!

111
00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:30,360
Every summer it happens,

112
00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,720
but I didn't think this would
happen to me.

113
00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,120
It's a little bit embarrassing,
but it is what it is.

114
00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,040
Alright. I'm gonna go change.

115
00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:39,800
Tick that one off the list.

116
00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:50,680
Towards the end of shift, lifeguards
start to pack up the jet ski.

117
00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,560
But conditions
are treacherous at south corner

118
00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:00,600
and the beach is still busy.

119
00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:03,400
The whole day, we've been trying
to keep people

120
00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:04,520
out of the south corner.

121
00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,000
That's the worst spot on the beach.

122
00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:07,880
The rip's really close to shore.

123
00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,680
It looks beautiful,
but little so you know,

124
00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,640
once you tread off that edge,
you're gone.

125
00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:14,640
Both look back down that corner

126
00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,880
and we just see this family
walking into the rip.

127
00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:27,760
Yeah.

128
00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,000
As we were approaching,
we could just see several heads

129
00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:31,400
bobbing out to sea.

130
00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:32,960
We're both gonna have to
go in here.

131
00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:34,880
I think we're both gonna go.

132
00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,760
The family of four has been swept
50 metres from shore.

133
00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,000
Conditions are rough.

134
00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:52,560
It's like a washing machine
out there.

135
00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,480
Everyone was frantic.
I was like, "Shit."

136
00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,840
OSHER: Joel and Jackson race
to save a family of four

137
00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,920
caught in a churning rip
at south corner.

138
00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,320
It's a perfect rescue scenario
for the jet ski,

139
00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,520
but it's just been towed away
at pack up.

140
00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,040
As I'm paddling out,

141
00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,280
I'm trying to prioritise
who I'm gonna pick up.

142
00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,840
I can see two people
holding onto a surfer,

143
00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,120
but I can also see an older
gentleman further out,

144
00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,640
and I just know I've gotta
get to him first.

145
00:08:35,680 --> 00:08:37,560
There were two women
to the right of me

146
00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:39,440
who were clinging onto a surfer
for dear life.

147
00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,680
The man in front of me
was definitely my priority.

148
00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:43,040
He was going under.

149
00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:44,760
Jump on, bud.

150
00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:45,920
We need more help here.

151
00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,800
Joel's patient has just
been rescued by a surfer.

152
00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,480
This older gentleman out the back
is looking a bit distressed.

153
00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,120
I can see the fear in his eyes.

154
00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,000
I can see he's the one struggling
the most.

155
00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,480
He couldn't swim well at all.

156
00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,400
No, buddy. Stop, stop, stop, stop,
stop, stop.

157
00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,280
He's really struggling
to get on the board,

158
00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:24,480
but I know time's everything

159
00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,520
'cause we're just drifting further
and further out to sea.

160
00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:28,240
We're just gonna get
hit by more waves.

161
00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:30,920
It's going to become a harder
and more dangerous situation.

162
00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:32,600
You need to face forward.

163
00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:34,400
By this time, it's a bit of
a struggle.

164
00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,800
I've got two people on my board,
with not the best balance,

165
00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:38,560
so there's a bit of panic going on.

166
00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,600
With four rescue victims,
lifeguards are outnumbered.

167
00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:53,440
The jet ski is back in action,
but Lachie is 500 metres away.

168
00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,240
At this point, pretty full-on
situation, what we've got here.

169
00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,440
There's waves,
there's people everywhere.

170
00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:02,960
Jackson's got his hands full.

171
00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,160
We need Lachie
on that jet ski right now.

172
00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,880
Come on, mate.
Buddy, you need to get up there.

173
00:10:09,560 --> 00:10:11,960
Paddling multiple patients
against the rip

174
00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:13,880
is close to impossible.

175
00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,040
Finally, the jet ski backs up.

176
00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,640
That's it, mate. That's it.

177
00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:39,160
When Lachie arrives on the jet ski,
it's just a total relief.

178
00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:40,800
It's a full game changer.

179
00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:44,880
You OK?

180
00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,760
The family of four
are all on holiday.

181
00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,280
Andreas and his wife
live in Tasmania.

182
00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,960
The mother and father are visiting
from Canada.

183
00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:16,240
That was a pretty hectic rescue.

184
00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,640
And, like, today, if we didn't
have that jet ski,

185
00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:21,560
would have put so much more stress
on that situation.

186
00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,280
Whole family would have just gone.

187
00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,160
We did our best.

188
00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,320
We got 'em back to shore
and job well done.

189
00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:45,320
Smaller crowds and gentle conditions
reduce the likelihood of rescues,

190
00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,960
but lifeguards never relax.

191
00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,640
There's an emergency call
from police.

192
00:11:59,960 --> 00:12:01,520
Bring it back to the water's edge.

193
00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:10,080
A man has fallen from
50 metre cliffs north of Bondi.

194
00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,520
With no road access, Chase
and Will launch the jet ski.

195
00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,320
Yeah. When you're ready!

196
00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:21,440
The panic was going through me,

197
00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:23,600
but then you kinda go
into this fight or flight moment

198
00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:24,840
trying to save this guy's life,

199
00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,240
and know that if anything's gonna
happen from here, it's on us.

200
00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:35,880
Troy and Hoppo prepare
for a possible resuscitation.

201
00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:43,200
So, in this situation, we don't
know what we're dealing with.

202
00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:45,840
The positive side is the person
is still alive.

203
00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,000
We get 'em back to the beach
and we can either revive them

204
00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,840
or get them off the hospital
as quick as possible.

205
00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,000
The negative is the person
is already deceased

206
00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,480
and they're on the rocks
and there's not much we can do.

207
00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,320
I mean, the situation that Chase
and Will find themselves in,

208
00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:15,040
it can be quite intimidating.

209
00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:16,320
Although we're trained for this,

210
00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,360
it's never a good scenario
to be in.

211
00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:22,840
Everything's about time,

212
00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,200
so you want to get to this person
as quick as possible,

213
00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:26,880
and that's when everything
travels through your mind.

214
00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:28,680
I just don't know whether
I'm gonna find someone

215
00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:29,880
at the bottom of the rocks,

216
00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:31,720
or someone sitting there,
hopefully alive.

217
00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,120
I think that's the scariest part.

218
00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:43,480
OSHER: A man has fallen from
50-metre cliffs just north of Bondi.

219
00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:53,400
Chase and Will travel a kilometre
around Ben Buckler headland.

220
00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,200
The rest of the team are on standby.

221
00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,800
Got two out there,
we've got one up in the tower,

222
00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,240
and we've got all of us ready
on standby here,

223
00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,400
just in case we have a resus
on the water's edge.

224
00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:05,680
But at the same time,
we've still got all the swimmers

225
00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:06,800
to worry about as well.

226
00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,640
So you've just gotta constantly
be scanning and just making sure

227
00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:11,440
that you're on top of
both situations

228
00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,880
and just trying to keep calm,
otherwise, things go wrong.

229
00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:34,360
So, the update -

230
00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,680
they're trying to locate where
the patient is at the moment.

231
00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:38,720
They got the police helicopter
up there.

232
00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,640
They're looking, but it's so rocky
in that, round there,

233
00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,080
he could be between the rocks.

234
00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,240
It'd be very hard to see
from the water,

235
00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,800
and also up on top of the cliff
can be hard.

236
00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,040
Such dangerous conditions
because it's so choppy

237
00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:52,440
and there's so much going on.

238
00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,320
Trying to evaluate
what safest for us

239
00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,000
and what's safest for this person.

240
00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,560
PolAir finally spots
the fallen man.

241
00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,840
Tragically,
the man has not survived.

242
00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,360
If anything,
they'll winch the guy up.

243
00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,760
If it was in the water,
we would have brought him back.

244
00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,920
So, probably a police rescue
retrieval now.

245
00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,880
Unfortunately,
the person is deceased.

246
00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,080
The police now will take over.

247
00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,440
There's not much more we can do
as lifeguards,

248
00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,600
so Will and Chase will stand down
and come back to the beach.

249
00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,360
It's never the best feeling
when you get to come back to shore

250
00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:18,440
and know that someone's lost
their life, so just feels helpless.

251
00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:19,880
It's the worst case scenario.

252
00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,880
You just wish someone saw it
earlier or was able to help.

253
00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,920
In 19 years of lifeguarding,

254
00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:40,200
Whippet has never backed
down from a challenge.

255
00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,920
Grab on, and I'll pull you on.
Come on, let's go!

256
00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:45,880
There's a big set coming in
off the rocks.

257
00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,560
But the biggest test of his life

258
00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,120
is a long way from
the cliffs of Bondi.

259
00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:58,280
It begins near the cliffs of Dover,
on the other side of the world.

260
00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,920
He's attempting to swim
the English Channel for charity.

261
00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:04,280
See you in France.

262
00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:12,520
6:32am, Monday morning,
and Whippet's commencing his swim.

263
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,640
Big physical challenges
are exciting to me.

264
00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,240
18 months out, started training
and finally got over to England.

265
00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:23,760
The swim itself
was definitely scary.

266
00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:26,200
It's a really isolating feeling.

267
00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,240
It's so deep and the water
is kind of so dark.

268
00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,200
You can't see anything past
your hand when you're stroking.

269
00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,360
So knowing that
you're going to be in there

270
00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,760
for a minimum of 9 to 10 hours -

271
00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,760
maybe up to 14 or 15,
depending how the day goes -

272
00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:41,240
it's really tough.

273
00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,760
It's hard on the mind
and it's hard on the body.

274
00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,360
It's a 40 kilometre swim

275
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,760
through the world's busiest
shipping lane.

276
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,840
We're coming up to his
four and a half hour feed.

277
00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,720
We're in the south west
shipping channels.

278
00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,960
When you get out into the middle
of the shipping lanes,

279
00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,280
the size of these ships
is just incredible.

280
00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:02,440
It's really intimidating.

281
00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,880
You're just a tiny speck
in the ocean.

282
00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,480
And I know the swimmer
has technically got right of way

283
00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,200
in the English Channel,
but I don't care.

284
00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,520
Those cargo ships
take a while to turn around,

285
00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,160
so if one's on course, you know,
you're getting out of its way,

286
00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:17,560
rather than it changing for you.

287
00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,640
And I know you've got your boat
next to you,

288
00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,000
but if you touch it or get on it
for safety, your swim's over.

289
00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,680
It was a real possibility
that I wouldn't make it.

290
00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,720
Any sort of failure was always
going to be my biggest fear.

291
00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:46,400
OSHER: Whippet is attempting
the biggest challenge of his life -

292
00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,120
a 40 kilometre swim
across the English Channel.

293
00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,920
The swim got really difficult
when the weather changed.

294
00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:54,880
The wind picked up
and it got quite choppy,

295
00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,280
and it really made the rest of
the swim quite hard.

296
00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,880
The wind has come up a little bit,
unpredicted,

297
00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,400
so gonna be a bit stronger
than what it was gonna be.

298
00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,520
At 8 hours, my left shoulder
blew out on me a bit

299
00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:08,560
and I was really feeling the pain.

300
00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:09,960
It was burning every stroke,

301
00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,120
and I was starting to struggle
a bit, mentally and physically.

302
00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,600
But then I could see land and,
you know, it gave me a huge boost.

303
00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:20,080
Let's go, Whippy!

304
00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:24,040
Whippet's mate Reedy has joined him
for moral support.

305
00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,200
I had Reedy yapping at me
off the boat.

306
00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:27,520
Stepping into the lion's den.

307
00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:29,680
I'm gonna jump in and
do half an hour with him.

308
00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:31,880
Reedy jumped in for
the last kilometre with me,

309
00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,360
and it was just a really enjoyable
and special time to

310
00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,000
finish off my swim with him.

311
00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:37,800
Challenge him, Reedy.

312
00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,040
To successfully complete
the English Channel

313
00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,880
and make it an official swim,
you have to clear the water line

314
00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:44,440
and kind of get on to dry land

315
00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,120
and the guys on the boat are like,
"Keep going, keep going,"

316
00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:49,680
and I'm like, "I'm in knee-deep
water on sharp rocks.

317
00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:51,800
"My legs don't really work."

318
00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,320
So, for the next, like, 80 metres,

319
00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:57,000
I'm almost breast stroking
across these rocks.

320
00:19:58,240 --> 00:19:59,600
Yeah, Whip!

321
00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:01,920
9 hours 39 minutes!

322
00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,640
You made it!
Wow. What a day!

323
00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,360
Finally, yep, Whippet,
you're an English Channel swimmer.

324
00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,120
That was brutal.
Talk me through it.

325
00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:13,800
A lot of head noise.

326
00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,320
Some super, super sore shoulders.

327
00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:18,560
Physically and mentally,

328
00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,800
by far the hardest thing
I've ever taken on.

329
00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,200
Such a good feeling
to have that done.

330
00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,200
Oh, that's epic.

331
00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,600
Wife Gina, and three boys,
Jett, Nixon and Marley,

332
00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,320
are on hand to celebrate.

333
00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,080
It's the hardest thing
I've ever done,

334
00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:43,960
but it's also the most rewarding.

335
00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:51,760
Whippet's Channel swim was motivated
by a charity close to his heart.

336
00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,400
He was raising funds for
Ocean Heroes,

337
00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,480
a charity that helps autistic
children through surfing.

338
00:20:58,720 --> 00:20:59,920
So today, down here at Bondi,

339
00:20:59,960 --> 00:21:02,320
we've got another one of
our Ocean Heroes events.

340
00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:03,600
They're an awesome couple of hours

341
00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:05,920
that we get kids from
our autistic community down here

342
00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,240
and take them on a safe
surf lesson,

343
00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,080
get them out in the ocean
and get them to have a good time.

344
00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:13,440
We got little Micah.
Hi!

345
00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,360
And we're gonna go surfing?
Uh-huh.

346
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,160
Yeah? How far out
do you want to go?

347
00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,680
Out to where the real surfers are.
That's right.

348
00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:22,840
Are you ready to catch a big wave?
Yes.

349
00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:24,800
Alright, let's go, buddy.
Do it.

350
00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,160
So we paddle for the wave,
we catch the wave.

351
00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:28,480
That's it.

352
00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:30,520
And then you show me
how you're gonna stand up.

353
00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:33,440
Yeah. Keep going.

354
00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:34,920
Stand up.

355
00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:39,800
Confident?
Mm.

356
00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:41,120
Alright, you're ready to go.

357
00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:43,160
I am confident. Yes.
Let's go.

358
00:22:04,360 --> 00:22:08,480
Whippet's swim
raised more than $130,000

359
00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,840
for lifejackets, wetsuits
and surfboards.

360
00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,080
To now be here at Bondi and,
you know,

361
00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,120
having 50 autistic kids coming down
and surfing with the boys

362
00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,080
and, you know, being able to put
this on for our autistic community

363
00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:26,480
made it all worthwhile.

364
00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:30,160
Proud of you.

365
00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,360
That was a fun session, mate.

366
00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:34,840
You made my day.
I had a lot of fun.

367
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,160
That's good.
How many waves did we catch?

368
00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:38,680
I think three or four.

369
00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,160
I'm going to need to get
a surfboard and show it off.

370
00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:42,560
Oh, yeah?

371
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,400
Do you reckon you'll be
a big surfer star?

372
00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:45,480
Yeah.

373
00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,320
What if people start asking
for your autograph?

374
00:22:47,360 --> 00:22:49,000
I will give it to them.

375
00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,160
See you, buddy.
See you later. Bye.

376
00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:53,800
I get emotional
when I think about it,

377
00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:57,000
because it's changing the lives
of little kids.

378
00:22:58,560 --> 00:22:59,720
Ugh.

379
00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,560
I've been lucky to have
three very healthy kids and...

380
00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:08,960
You see the smile on
these kids' faces,

381
00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:10,320
that's pretty special.

382
00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:14,920
Next time...

383
00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:17,760
That kid's bloody lucky.

384
00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,000
..a drowning teenager.

385
00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:21,600
30 seconds longer,
he'd be dead.

386
00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,160
And what lurks beneath at Bondi?

387
00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:29,000
Some sharks are harmless,
others deadly.

388
00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,120
Captions by Red Bee Media