WA Governor His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Gold Star recipient Jake Dwyer, Bravery Commendation recipient Cade Ferguson, and Royal Life Saving WA President Vaughan Davies

Men awarded for saving life at City Beach pool

A casual trip to the local pool in November 2022 took a drastic turn for Jake Dwyer when he realised one of his fellow patrons was in trouble. 

Jake was swimming laps at Bold Park Aquatic Centre when he saw a man coughing and holding onto the lane rope. Although he claimed to be fine, Jake realised  the situation was becoming serious when the man began slurring his words and becoming less responsive.  

Jumping into action, Jake waved down Pool Lifeguard Cade Ferguson before quickly towing the swimmer 20 metres to the pool’s edge. Jake and Cade worked with other lifeguards to lift the man from the water so Cade could assess the swimmer’s condition and administer oxygen until the ambulance officers arrived.   

It was later determined the swimmer had suffered a stroke, and if it wasn’t for Jake’s actions in recognising the emergency and Cade’s quick response to the incident, the outcome could have been much worse. The man went on to make a good recovery thanks to their timely response.   

Jake received a Gold Star and Cade received a Bravery Commendation at the Royal Life Saving Bravery Awards for their roles in saving the man’s life.  

When asked how he felt when he found out he was nominated for the award, Jake’s response further reinforced how selfless his actions were.  

“He called me a few weeks after the incident and said thank you. That probably meant more than the nomination, just knowing that he was all right,” he said.  

Jake and Cade’s story only further highlights the importance of learning basic first aid.  

Learning first aid techniques can be crucial in an emergency. These skills can help keep someone breathing, reduce their pain, and minimise the consequences of an injury or sudden illness until professional help arrives. 

Jake and Cade both have their First Aid Certificates, and their training allowed them to remain calm and respond properly to the emergency situation.  

"It was just about staying calm. If I wasn’t calm, it definitely would have been a lot worse. Panicking in the water is the worst thing you can do,” Cade said. 

First aid is easy to learn and provides you with invaluable skills that can be used whenever needed. 

Ready to learn or refresh a lifesaving skill? Click the link below to book your First Aid course today.