Santa Swaps Sleigh For Rescue Boat

Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 16:47

Santa steered a rescue boat to save two lives at the Torquay beach in Victoria. Two patrol members and Santa pulled out two boogie boarders from the waters at about 6.30 pm.

The rescue call came when Santa had stepped onto an inflatable rescue boat and tore across the sea to reach the spot.

A teenaged boy was struggling in the water after losing his boogie board and had been washed 30m away from his older male companion. The male companion, believed to be in his late 20s, was thoroughly exhausted and struggling to stay afloat even as two surfers swam across and offered him a board as leverage.

Rob McAlister, a club patrol captain who co-ordinated the rescue, praised Santa for his help.