Staff at the Fremantle Leisure Centre have been honoured for their heroic efforts in saving a swimmer’s life earlier this year.
Three lifeguards James Annetts, Jasmine Shepherd and Georgia Ray, as well as swim instructor Jessica Cannon, were awarded with a Royal Life Saving Society Gold Star Bravery Award during a ceremony at the State Reception Centre in Kings Park last Friday.
The group rescued a woman who suffered a seizure and was in and out of consciousness during the ordeal.
Fremantle Leisure Centre Manager John East said the woman was swimming laps in the pool with her husband as they would on any other day.
“After a few laps she began to have a seizure in the deep end of the 50m pool and her husband immediately called for help,” Mr East said.
“Off-duty swim instructor Jessica was swimming laps nearby when she heard the cries for help and didn’t hesitate to help. Assisting the husband, she carefully held her head out of the water while the seizure continued and brought her to the bulkhead of the pool.
“Lifeguards Jasmine and Georgia also came to help, and secured the woman in a rescue tube until her seizure finished and then were able to lift her from the pool.
“The pools were evacuated and duty manager James gathered the first aid equipment and administered treatment.