As Swimmers Fled Attack, Viral Picture Captures Lifeguard Running ‘All Out’ Towards the Location.

Alexandra Ching, a permanent resident of Bondi, has always considered the renowned beach as her back yard. On that particular weekend evening, she, similar to other neighbors, heard pops ringing out through the suburb.

“We all thought the same, but I reasoned it was too light and no one could see them,” Ching recounts. Exiting her home, she saw people “flooding up Bondi Road”. The looks they wore made it clear something was wrong.

While standing on the road, talking to a pair who had run up the hill in their swimwear, she became aware of someone moving up from behind. It was a lifeguard, dashing to Bondi unshod from the nearby Tamarama beach – roughly 1.5km – while holding a medical device.

“I caught a voice saying ‘excuse me’, and as I turned I spotted this streak in blue,” she recalls. “He was zooming past. He was the only one running in the opposite way that everyone was trying to escape from, and hauling that sizeable pack and without footwear … He’s running towards something that certainly every fibre in your being would signal you to move in the other direction.

“Absolutely no pause, but just totally maximum effort running.”

A Symbol of Bravery In the Wake of Tragedy

The image Ching captured of the lifeguard, now known to be Jackson Doolan, quickly spread as among numerous moments of courage in the following of the terror attack.

Andy Reid, another lifeguard, explained that Doolan, referred to as “Jacko”, hurried from Tamarama beach to assist the remaining crew at Bondi, as well as to aid emergency personnel, law enforcement and medical teams attending to dozens of those hurt.

Community Response and Solidarity

Doolan’s account was part of a broader narrative to emerge from the local area, with the lifeguard clubhouse beside the scene of the violence serving as a makeshift hospital. It was shared that fellow lifeguards were also seen helping out, such as entering the water to assist people who were struggling.

Following the tragedy, messages of appreciation were shared. An online statement conveyed gratitude for the responders who demonstrated that “goodness will always overcome evil”.

The squad of beach patrol published a message, noting they were “still trying to comprehend what transpired”.

“We are grateful all for your supportive words and solidarity. We are overwhelmed by the kindness shown towards our responders,” the group commented. “In time, we will recount our experiences in the aim that it aids those impacted.”

Local Government Commendation

Waverley council, the governing body that employs many professional beach safety officers, said that the crew acted heroically from the moment the shooting began until late that evening.

“We have heard so many powerful stories, but the widely-circulated photo of Jackson Doolan, sprinting from Tamarama to Bondi with a AED so he could help save lives is extraordinary,” commented a council representative.

“These individuals exhibit selflessness every day in maintaining the safety of our world-famous coastlines secure for the public, but what we witnessed on Sunday should be commended.

“While we mourn and come to terms with the atrocity of this violent and horrific act of violence, I think it is vital that we reflect on just how much good we have seen in the midst of such hatred.”