Margaret River Recreational Surfers’ crucial ‘Shark Eyes’ training with Shire of Augusta-Margaret River grant

A group of local surfers have just been put through their paces in heavy-water rescue training which advocates hope will be just the first for ongoing training in the region. Margaret River Recreational Surfers’ Bec Sheedy organised the training for 12 members which was recently funded to the tune of almost $8300 under the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s community grants program. A professional surf coach, Ms Sheedy told the Times she co-ordinated the grant so club members could go through crucial training offered by Shanan Worall’s Shark Eyes company, spurred on by last year’s tragic death by veteran surfer Frank Hayter. Mr Hayter, 65, died in August last year during peak surfing conditions, suffering a heart attack and drowning. Ms Sheedy said the veteran surfer was fortunate to be attended by two ex-lifeguards and a firefighter, but rough conditions meant nothing could be done until a jetski arrived 45 minutes later. Ms Sheedy organised the training and was joined by Mr Worall calling for an annual commitment to help upskill the region’s recreational surfers as the frontline in any ocean emergency given the region lacked a dedicated capacity. “People trained in ocean rescue have eyes for seeing situations unfold or can really see that an emergency is occurring,” she said. “Many people untrained in rescues will not even notice a situation unfolding due to inattentional blindness.” Mr Worall said he believed the rescue training he offered with Russell Ord was needed by all recreational surfers while the region still lacked an integrated emergency response for ocean emergencies. “Margaret River is known as the big wave capital of Australia,” he said. Surfing was often a “selfish” pursuit, but Mr Worall hoped building a community of surfers skilled in emergency rescue would cement the bonds between surfers and provide a valuable resource when emergency struck. As a big wave surfer and winner of the World Surf League’s 2017 Tube of the Year at the famed Right break off WA’s south coast, Mr Worall had honed his approach through years of necessity. Mr Ord was a famed surf photographer, veteran waterman and former firefighter who specialised in the breath-holding techniques crucial to ocean survival. The participants’ two-day training started with the basics of breath-holding and using what Mr Worall called “positive mental anchors” so surfers could remain calm in the event of a wipe-out. “In a wipe-out scenario, if you don’t stay calm, you’re going to be chewing through oxygen,” he said. “If they’re in a heavy situation, they can combine the breathing technique with the positive mental anchors so they can survive for longer without oxygen or keep breathing if possible.” Additionally, surfers were shown how to set up and operate a jetski for ocean rescues, which Mr Worall said was the only way to access some local breaks in emergencies. Participants were also schooled in emergency first-aid procedures by WA’s “surfing doctor” Dennis Millard who was a regular visitor surfing as well as training beachgoers in how to use tourniquets — including surfboard leg ropes — to avert major blood loss and trauma in the event of a shark attack or serious reef wounds. “I teach a hybrid between surf club first aid and emergency management of severe trauma,” Dr Millard told the Times. “This is similar to the Remote Aquatic Emergency Course that we teach to doctors as part of the Surfing Doctors’ annual conferences, but pitched at non-medical people from the big wave and tow-surfing community.” Shire corporate and community services director James Shepherd said ratepayers previously funded Surfing WA’s Rescue 365 training program and the recent grants to the Recreational Surfers would continue to be available to applicants.