When Sunbathers Escaped Attack, Widely-Shared Image Shows Rescuer Dashing ‘All Out’ In the Direction of the Site.

Alexandra Ching, a lifelong local of Bondi, views the renowned coast as her own backyard. On that particular weekend night, she, similar to other neighbors, heard loud noises reverberating around the community.

“Everyone did, but I considered it was daylight and you couldn't spot any lights,” she explains. Exiting her home, she witnessed people “pouring up Bondi Road”. The looks she saw told her something was wrong.

While standing on the avenue, speaking to a couple who had hurried up the slope still dripping wet, she noticed someone coming up at her rear. The person was a lifeguard, sprinting in the direction of Bondi barefoot from the adjacent Tamarama beach – a distance of 1.5km – while carrying a medical device.

“I heard someone say ‘excuse me’, and when I spun around I just saw this streak in blue,” she recounts. “He was zooming past. He was the only one heading in the direction that all the others was trying to escape from, while holding that sizeable pack and barefoot … He’s running into something that undoubtedly every fibre in your being would instruct you to move in the reverse way.

“Without a second thought, but just totally full throttle racing.”

A Powerful Moment of Courage In the Wake of Chaos

The image Ching captured of the rescuer, now known to be Jackson Doolan, was widely shared as one of many acts of valour in the following of the tragic event.

Andy Reid, a fellow lifeguard, noted that Doolan, called “Jacko”, ran from Tamarama beach to support the rest of his team at Bondi, as well as to work with other rescuers, law enforcement and ambulance crews treating dozens of the injured.

Local Response and Solidarity

Doolan’s actions was part of a broader narrative to come out of the neighbourhood, with the beach facility next to the scene of the violence becoming a impromptu treatment center. Accounts show that other team members were also seen responding bravely, for instance rushing into the water to rescue people who were struggling.

In the days after the events, comments of appreciation were shared. An online statement expressed appreciation for the individuals who demonstrated that “goodness will always triumph over evil”.

The team of lifeguards issued a message, explaining they were “processing what happened”.

“Our thanks go out to all for your kind words and solidarity. We are deeply moved by the compassion for our team,” the group wrote. “When ready, we will share our stories in the belief that it aids those involved.”

Council Praise

Waverley council, the local authority that hires many full-time beach safety officers, said that the crew performed exceptionally from the second the shooting started through to late that nighttime.

“People have shared so many emotional accounts, but the viral image of Jackson Doolan, running from Tamarama to Bondi with a AED so he could help assist the injured is incredible,” stated a mayor.

“Our lifeguards demonstrate selflessness every day in keeping our internationally renowned beaches protected for the public, but what we saw on Sunday should be celebrated.

“During this time of sorrow and grapple with the terror of this heinous tragedy, I think it is crucial that we reflect on just how much light we have observed in the midst of such evil.”