Black Sunday
On Sunday, 6 February, 1938, a tragedy occurred at Bondi Beach, causing it to be remembered as one of the most significant incident in Australian surf lifesaving history. Approximately 250 swimmers required assistance, 150 were rescued, 60 suffered near drowning, 35 brought to shore were unconscious and five drowned after a series of ‘powerful’ waves wreaked havoc on the beach. The term ‘Black Sunday’ was coined by Bondi SBLSC captain Carl Jeppesen in his statements, describing the tragedy.
The seas were considerably rough, with constant warnings to bathers and several minor rescues conducted out at Bondi. Despite this, there were still around 35 000 people on Bondi beach in the mid-afternoon, and several hundred in the surf.
At approximately 3:30pm, three or four large and heavy consecutive waves swept the beach in quick succession, creating a backwash so strong that it directed 200 bathers off a sandbank and into the strong channel.
Fortunately, around 70 surf lifesavers were on the beach at the time as many were waiting to participate in a race. If it wasn't for this fact, there would have been many more that would have drowned.
Lifesavers immediately began the difficult task of rescuing all the bathers using seven belt and reels, surf boats, surf skis, rubber floats, or nothing at all. According to a vast majority of eyewitness accounts, panicking bathers made the
rescues very arduous, as they overloaded onto them. Distressed people on the beach who desperately attempted to find their missing loved ones, hindered the rescue efforts, making the scene as chaotic as the water.
Within about 15 minutes, the water was clear of bathers, however, the resuscitation work on the beach continued for much longer. Doctors in the crowd and those living nearby were called to help, along with and Ambulances. Due to these efforts, dozens had been successfully resuscitated and two were recovering in hospital.
The seas were considerably rough, with constant warnings to bathers and several minor rescues conducted out at Bondi. Despite this, there were still around 35 000 people on Bondi beach in the mid-afternoon, and several hundred in the surf.
At approximately 3:30pm, three or four large and heavy consecutive waves swept the beach in quick succession, creating a backwash so strong that it directed 200 bathers off a sandbank and into the strong channel.
Fortunately, around 70 surf lifesavers were on the beach at the time as many were waiting to participate in a race. If it wasn't for this fact, there would have been many more that would have drowned.
Lifesavers immediately began the difficult task of rescuing all the bathers using seven belt and reels, surf boats, surf skis, rubber floats, or nothing at all. According to a vast majority of eyewitness accounts, panicking bathers made the
rescues very arduous, as they overloaded onto them. Distressed people on the beach who desperately attempted to find their missing loved ones, hindered the rescue efforts, making the scene as chaotic as the water.
Within about 15 minutes, the water was clear of bathers, however, the resuscitation work on the beach continued for much longer. Doctors in the crowd and those living nearby were called to help, along with and Ambulances. Due to these efforts, dozens had been successfully resuscitated and two were recovering in hospital.