Courage on the south coast — three Albany men win Surf Life Saving WA bravery awards

Three courageous Albany men who put their lives on the line to save others along the rugged Great Southern coastline have today received bravery awards from Surf Life Saving WA. The SLSWA Coastal Bravery Awards shine a light on outstanding citizens, lifesavers and emergency services personnel who risked their lives to save someone else’s in life-threatening emergencies along the WA coast. Albany’s Jeff Fitzpatrick was awarded a silver medallion for bravery after he sprang into action to save then 78-year-old Perth man Walter Buczolich after he became wedged in a rocky cliff face at Muttonbird Beach in June. Mr Fitzpatrick, who was only 19 at the time, was on his way to the secluded fishing spot only accessible by four-wheel-drive when he discovered Mr Buczolich’s wife Mary growing worried for her husband who had not returned to their camp site after leaving hours earlier to go fishing. Clambering across slippery rocks to search for Mr Buczolich, Mr Fitzpatrick heard a faint cry for help and soon discovered the man wedged in the rock face with his shoulders and leg stuck in a crevice. Tired and frightened, Mr Buczolich had been hanging on for more than four hours. Mr Fitzpatrick climbed down the wet rocks, with waves crashing just metres away, spending about 15 minutes to free Mr Buczolich. “In describing his rescuer, he said Jeff showed great courage and made a conscious decision to put himself in harm’s way to come to his aid,” judges said. Albany men Lachlan Rutherford and Rory Elliot were also awarded silver medallions for bravery today, for their selfless actions after a tragic paragliding accident near Shelley Beach in October where paraglider Wilf Pinchen lost his life. After witnessing Mr Pinchen crash land into the water, the pair glided down to the sand at Shelley Beach to check on the man who could be seen floating in the water. They swam about 600m through the surf to his aid risking entanglement in the paragliders’ lines. When Mr Elliot reached the man — who was face down in the water — he discovered he was deceased. The pair decided to tread water for close to an hour in order to stay with the man’s body to ensure he could be recovered. “Placing themselves in harm’s way to go to the aid of the pilot, both Lachlan and Rory demonstrated both courage and compassion in their actions that day,” judges said.