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John Micallef
Local hero
rescues woman at Gerroa LynneStrong
J
ohn Micallef never set out to be a hero. At 74, he was simply out at Gerroa enjoying his latest passion, wing foiling, when an ordinary afternoon turned into a life-saving mission. It was a rough day on the water. As John made his way back to shore, he noticed two men on the beach waving at him. At first, he thought they were yelling because he had come too close to the swimmers. "I was getting a bit concerned because they were bigger than me," John laughed. "Then I thought maybe they were warningmeaboutashark." But as he turned to look, he saw a woman being dragged further out to sea by a strong rip. Her arm was flailing above the water in distress. Without hesitation, John sprang into action. "I knew I had to reach her quickly.
Rather than approaching her standing on my foil board, which has a razor-sharp hydrofoil, I stayed on my knees, using the wing to propel myself towards her." When John reached the woman, she was exhausted and panicked. He knew the key was to keep her calm. "I just told her, ‘Stay calm. Everything will be alright.’" The board was too small to hold them both, so he instructed her to grip the foot strap and hold onto the board for buoyancy. Then, carefully, he used the wind to steer them back towards shore. "We were about 200 metres out, but thankfullytherewasastrongwind helping us in." The real challenge came as they entered the wave zone. "I had to be really careful because the hydrofoil underneathisincrediblysharp.Itold her, ‘When I say so, push away from the board as far as you can.’ And she did exactly that when the waves hit."
After tumbling through a few waves, they finally reached the shallows. "I told her, ‘Alright, we’re nearly there. When you can stand, just let go andwalkin.’ Andthatwas it." Waiting onshore, the two men whohadsignalledJohnrantothank him. The woman, still shaken, was immensely grateful. "I thought you were abusing me!" John joked to the men. "They said, ‘No, no, we were trying to get you to help her!’" John’s friend Joe Fischer, who is 78, was in awe when he heard what had happened. "The bloke’s 74, should be in a nursing home!" Joe laughed. "But instead, he’s out there saving lives. He’s braved the elements and rescued someone. Good on him, I say. He deserves a medal." The rescued woman had unknowingly entered a dangerous rip. "The area near track three always has a strong rip," John explained. "It’s not a safe place to
swim, and unfortunately, she got caught." Mayor Cameron McDonald praised John’s quick thinking and the strong community effort that supportsbeachsafety. "What an amazing story. Thanks to John in averting what may have been another tragedy on a local beach. Again, we see members of the community assisting lifeguards and voluntary lifesavers in keeping our beach users safe. It also serves as a reminder - swim between the flags,listentolifesavers'instructions, know your abilities, and don’t go in if you don’t know local conditions. Respecttheoceanalways." Despite his modesty, John’s act of courage highlights the importance of ocean awareness and staying calm in emergencies. "I’d never done anything like this before. As I was approaching her, I thought, ‘How am I going to handle this?’ My final thought was, if I can just get to her, at least she’ll have something to
hold onto. And if I couldn’t get her in myself, I’d stay with her and call for help." John also credits the woman for staying calm and following his instructions. "That was imperative," he said. "Otherwise, both the swimmer and the rescuer can be in danger." Presentation of a Community Bravery Award by Gareth Ward is in recognition of John’s quick thinkingandselflessactions. “John’s actions are an example of how everyday people become heroes,”MrWardsaid.“Attimeslike these, preparation isn’t necessary, only bucketloads of guts and character. John’s actions have saved a life. Mr Ward emphasised that while many people shy away from recognition, John’s bravery should be celebrated, not just to honour his efforts but to highlight the strength ofthelocalcommunity. “There is nothing more Aussie
than helping a mate in trouble,” Mr Ward said. “John’s quick thinking and actions are emblematic of the essence and flavour that make our community the best place in the world to live. Thank you, John, you are a champion.” At an age where many might slow down, John remains incredibly active - cycling, playing tennis, performing in a band, and now, wing foiling. "I don’t know that I’m super fit," he said. "I’ve had two heart operations in the last year. But I love being active." Joe, however, isn’t buying John’s humility. "The man’s a legend," he said. "He’s out there doing things that most of us wouldn’t even attemptathalf his age." As locals contemplate strategies to educate visitors about surf safety, John’sstoryservesasareminderofthe ocean’s dangers and an inspiration. He was in the right place at the right time - with the skills, courage, and quick thinking to save a life.