Hero modest about rescue

A Kwinana policeman who braved choppy waters to save a woman in distress off Naval Base on Saturday has praised the efforts of bystanders and other emergency services who helped with the rescue.

Sen. Const. Anthony Van Andel was modest when describing his involvement in the rescue of 30-year-old Beth Hull, who was knocked out of her kayak after being pushed out to sea by strong winds, calling the rescue a ‘‘team effort’’.

He said he and fellow officer Const. Mike Thomson responded to the emergency call that came in at 5.05pm Saturday.

On arrival at the beach the officers stopped a passing motorist to help them locate the distressed family.

‘‘I flagged down a passing four-wheel-drive to ask if they could help —they happily did,’’ he said.

‘‘Without them Iwould have had t o walk a couple o f hundred metres, or let down the tyres on the police car.

‘‘That saved us a lot of effort and time.’’ Sen. Const. Van Andel said that when they reached the family, they could see the kayak, but at that stage did not know if Ms Hull, who has Down syndrome, was still alive.

Having recently completed an air-wing training course at a beach not far from the incident, Sen. Const. Van Andel said he decided to swim out to Ms Hull.

He said he felt relief when he reached Ms Hull and realised she was still alive.

‘‘She was frantic, clinging to the upturned kayak — the waves were crashing over her,’’ he said.

The father-of-two said he managed to overturn the kayak, untangle the paddle and was able to bring Ms Hull back to shore.

Kwinana Police Station acting officer-in-charge Sgt Steve Rauch said Sen. Const. Van Andel swam about 1km out to sea to reach Ms Hull.

‘‘Van Andel is a reluctant hero who put down his rescue attempt to ‘just doing the job’,’’ he said.

With a number of tragedies in waters off Rockingham over the past few weeks, Sgt Rauch acknowledged Ms Hull’s role in her own survival by wearing a life jacket and staying with the craft.

‘‘Van Andel’s fitness and courage did the rest,’’ he said.