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Lifeguards filmed rescuing surfer stuck in notorious swell off Sydney's Bronte Beach

FIRST ON 7 - Two lifeguards braved wild Sydney waves to rescue a surfer in danger of being swept onto rocks at a notorious patch off Bronte.

Witnesses described the terrifying moment the surfer was washed off her board and towards the unforgiving rocks known as "The Twins".

The surfer was stuck in swell too powerful to escape on Thursday that pushed her dangerously close to the cliffs.

Lifeguard Harrison Reid took to the waters to save the woman. Source: 7 News
Lifeguard Harrison Reid took to the waters to save the woman. Source: 7 News

Bronte lifeguard Harrison Reid headed out along the rock ledge, braving the waves to reach the stricken surfer with a rescue tube.

From the shore, witness Cora Bezemer recorded the rescue from the dangerous part of the beach she knows too well.

"I've seen it before where people have got scratched up on the rocks and cut to pieces," she told 7 News.


Lifeguard Corey Oliver. Source: 7 News
Lifeguard Corey Oliver. Source: 7 News

Lifeguard Corey Oliver told 7 News the spot is a "real mixing bowl and you get caught in that area you're going to get yourself in a lot of trouble".

The lifeguard tried to get close to his colleague and the surfer on the board, but conditions were too rough.

Mr Reid needed to swim the surfer further away from the rocks before the pair of lifeguards could finally get her on the board. They took the surfer all the way to the other end of the beach to bring her back in.

The lifeguards had to take the woman further out and down the beach before they could bring her back into shore. Source: 7 News
The lifeguards had to take the woman further out and down the beach before they could bring her back into shore. Source: 7 News

Mr Oliver said the surfer "was very lucky that there was a couple of guys here to help… she was really, really close to the rocks at one stage".

This surfer escaped any serious injury and was brought back to shore, but the surfboard did not.

Cora Bezemer has seen too many people smashed up in 'The Twins'. Source: 7 News
Cora Bezemer has seen too many people smashed up in 'The Twins'. Source: 7 News

"She was okay she wasn't too shaken up," Mr Oliver said. "But I think she was a bit upset that she borrowed a friends board and it didn't come back."

Ms Bezemer said: "I've seen the lifeguards get pushed under the water and I've been worried they weren't going to come back up… when they're going to save other people."

A 41-year-old surfer died in at the same spot in 2014 after suffering head injuries when he was washed onto those rocks.

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