Sydneysider Samantha Morley was on holiday with her family at Easter time in 2017 when she was swept away by a strong rip current at South Beach, Dunbogan. 

Tony and Phil had not seen Samantha since the rescue and the meeting appeared on Australian television. 

“Just to meet Samantha finally, was fantastic,” Tony said. 

“We hadn’t seen her since the rescue and it was great for us to come together, to get the message out about beach safety.”

Tony, Phil and Samantha have become the faces of Surf Life Saving Australia’s rip safety campaign for the summer. 

The message comes after two swimmers drowned and one is missing at Moonee Beach, 10km north of Coffs Harbour on Monday, December 17.

Sam said she was happy to be part of the campaign.

“I’m hoping through this campaign that people will see my story and see that I’m just an ordinary person and it will make them stop and think,” she said.

“I owe my life to these surf lifesavers and I’m hoping my story can make a difference.” 

Sam said it was ‘pretty awesome meeting the guys face to face’.

“That day was so wild and crazy, then the guys came out over the waves to save me,” she said. 

“They were so brave.”

Tony and Phil were honoured with numerous rescue awards for their bravery including an SLSA Meritorious Award.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said the safety campaign was a timely reminder for people to be conscious of the dangers of the ocean, during the period when people are looking forward to relaxing.

“I might be biased but NSW has some of the best beaches and stretches of coastline in the country,” he said. 

“However rips can happen anywhere anytime and this is why we strongly encourage people to swim at a patrolled location and between those red and yellow flags.”

Mr Pearce said if people do happen to find themselves caught in a rip, it’s crucial not to panic. 

“You need to conserve energy and wait for assistance from surf lifesavers.

“However prevention is the best course of action and we urge everyone to stop, look, and plan before entering the water.”

It is believed nearly 4 million Australians have experienced the terror of being caught in a rip current with the majority of those involved in a fatal incident are males aged 25-39.

The new awareness campaign calls on Australians to draw a line on the sand and to pause, look for hazards, and assess the dangers before entering the ocean. Stop. Think. Plan, is the message.

Rips are complex, can quickly change shape and location, and at times, are difficult to see. The things to look for are;

·  Deeper, dark-coloured water.

·  Fewer breaking waves.

·  A rippled surface surrounded by smooth waters.

·  Anything floating out to sea or foamy, discoloured, sandy, water flowing out beyond the waves.

Rips don’t always show all of these signs at once.

·  Relax – stay calm and float to conserve your energy.

·  Raise – raise your arm and attract attention from lifeguards or lifesavers.

·  Rescue – the lifeguards or lifesavers will be on their way to help you.

·  While floating, rip currents may flow in a circular pattern and return you to an adjacent sandbar

·  You may escape the rip current by swimming parallel to the beach, towards the breaking waves.

·  Reassess your situation. If what you’re doing isn’t working, try one of the other options until you’re rescued or return to shore.