Emmanuel College wishes to recognise the extraordinary efforts of Mick Slockwitch, who selflessly took on the dangerous conditions of a NSW central coast beach to rescue a family in trouble.
Earlier this year, while Mick was on holiday, he discovered the situation and on instinct dove straight in to help however he could. “I didn’t think much. It felt like something I had to do.” Mick explains.
The reported 2 metre high waves had created a bottleneck that had pulled a mother, Jennifer and her four children Eve, 15, Ethan, 11, Sonny, 10 and Skye, 8, out to sea. While the children were all Nippers, the waves had been too strong for them to fight alone. “It wasn’t a normal rescue by any means. I didn’t have any equipment with me.” Mick highlights.
Mick prioritised keeping the two youngest children above the surface over his own safety, until a brief lull in the waves allowed him to get them within reach of by-standers, who pulled them in from the rocky shoreline. Mick then returned to the Mum, Jennifer, who was still in trouble, and used the last of his strength to get her ashore.
Following the rescue Mick spent his remaining weeks of his holiday checking in on the family where he could and spending time on the beach, teaching the younger kids to surf. “Doing this has kept a family together. They get to go home and ALL be a family together.” He says humbly.
Mick now reflects, “Seeing the Mum’s social feed of them together at the beach, that means more to me than any award.”
Doing this has kept a family together. They get to go home and ALL be a family together.
