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Melbourne, (TIE Australia). A Melbourne mother and son have reunited with rescuers after being caught in a freak rip swimming at a Queensland beach. Fiona McDonald and her son Hamish were swimming between the flags at Alexandra Headland beach on the Sunshine Coast before the pair were in peril. Lifesavers quickly rushed to the family’s rescue, with Hamish quickly being torn away from his mother’s arms. “I couldn’t keep a hold of Hamish any longer; it was just like a washing machine,” Ms McDonald told reporters. “It was just relentless wave after relentless wave just smashing down on us.” Lifesaver’s Zac Turner and Jake Simpson said the whole event happened “so quick”, with both swimming out 30 seconds after the family were separated. “I rolled probably six or seven waves, lost sight of them a couple of times but I eventually got to them,” Mr Simpson said. While Fiona took in a lot of water from the wash, authorities have said the result could’ve been so much worse if the pair weren’t between the flags. “I’m really thankful that they came and saved us,” little Hamish said. “If any good can come out of our horrific experience, it’s just really trying to drive home that message of swimming between the flags,” Ms McDonald said.
