A woman has been rescued by two police officers and a council employee after getting into difficulties while swimming at Wollongong yesterday.
Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District and the Southern Region Enforcement Squad were performing duties as part of the UCI World Cycling Event near North Wollongong Beach about 5.20pm (Wednesday 21 September 2022), when they heard a cry for help.
They walked from Marine Drive onto the beach towards the voice, and spotted a woman caught in a rip about 50m off-shore near a rock shelf at the southern end of North Wollongong Beach.
The officers – both detective senior constables – were joined by a 52-year-old council employee who ran towards the edge of the rocks before a large wave crashed over the woman, blocking her from view.
One of the officers and the council worker entered the water and attempted to lift her onto the rocks where the other officer was waiting but were knocked into the sea.
The woman and two rescuers were eventually pulled safely onto the rock platform.
The 18-year-old woman was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics for cuts and abrasions.
The three rescuers were not injured.
