APPLECROSS resident Zac Miguel is a keen surfer but never anticipated that his favourite hobby would help him save someone’s life.
The 15-year-old Aquinas College student and his friend Lauchlan Mazzuchelli were surfing at Pyramids Beach in Dawesville on the Australia Day weekend when they noticed six people caught in a rip, about 20-30m off shore.
“We paddled over with our surfboards to get hold of the swimmers and take them back to where it was safer,” Zac said.
He said it was quite messy on the ocean that day and a strong rip had developed.
Zac said it took about `15 minutes to get all the swimmers back to the beach safely and that they did what anyone else would have done in the circumstances.
The boys’ efforts were honoured last week with Certificates of Recognition from Mandurah Mayor Paddi Creevey.
“I was really proud to receive recognition, but we weren’t doing it for a certificate,” Zac said.