Brighten Your Day

Beach Hero: Melbourne Woman Pulls Three Unconscious Men To Shore

March 20, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Victoria, Australia.

In a display of incredible bravery, 33-year-old Brianna Hurst risked her own safety to save the lives of three drowning strangers off the coast of south-western Victoria. The events unfolded near Apollo Bay at Marengo, south of Lorne, on Sunday afternoon, when a leisurely swim turned into a life-threatening situation for four men.

Credit: @iwakeupwithtoday

As the sunny afternoon took a dark turn, Brianna Hurst found herself unexpectedly thrust into the role of a hero. Sitting alone on the beach, she heard the panicked cries of a swimmer who had managed to reach the shore. Without hesitation, Hurst sprinted towards the water and plunged in, swimming towards the three struggling men.

"I went to the one that was closest to me," she recounted. "I had to swim out about 20m to get him. He was much bigger than me and pretty heavy."

Undeterred by the challenges, Hurst pulled each unconscious man to safety one by one. With each rescue, she defied the odds and risked her own safety to bring the stranded swimmers back to shore.

"At the start, there were not many other people on the beach, but by the time I was pulling the third person out, they were seeing what was happening and came to help," Hurst recalled.

Working alongside other concerned beachgoers, Hurst performed CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene. Tragically, despite their best efforts, one of the men could not be revived and succumbed to the ordeal. However, the swift actions of Brianna Hurst undoubtedly saved the lives of the other two men, aged 23 and 24, who are currently recovering in hospital.

Acting Senior Sergeant Stephen Bull praised Hurst's courageous efforts, acknowledging the undeniable impact of her selfless act.

"She put herself in danger to rescue people she didn't know. It's heroic," he stated.

Watch the interview below.