Northern Beaches Council lifeguards performed a swift rescue operation off Freshwater Beach on Friday afternoon, 9 January, after a group of surf ski paddlers encountered difficulties in challenging conditions.
The incident unfolded just before 1.45pm when three men paddling from Curl Curl to Freshwater found themselves struggling against strong headwinds approximately 1.5 kilometres offshore.
The group consisted of a man in his 60s on a single ski and two men—one in his 50s and another in his 70s—sharing a double ski. Emergency services were alerted when the lead paddler on the double ski began experiencing severe leg cramps and exhaustion, leaving his companion unable to bring them both safely back to shore.
Multiple emergency services responded to the Triple Zero call, including NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, the Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter, the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter and Northern Beaches Council lifeguards from Freshwater.
Two Freshwater lifeguards launched a jet-ski rescue, making two separate trips to retrieve both men and their double ski from the water whilst the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter maintained overhead surveillance.
The solo paddler on the single ski declined assistance and made his own way back to shore. The man in his 70s also refused medical treatment, explaining he had simply been unable to paddle the double ski back alone.
Paramedics assessed the exhausted paddler at Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club before transporting him to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition shortly after 2.30pm.
The rescue highlights the importance of understanding ocean conditions and personal limitations when undertaking water activities along the Northern Beaches coastline.
Published 13-January-2026
