Patrol captain Pip Thorn said the woman was swimming between the flags when she was caught in a side current and then an outgoing rip tide.

The 39-year-old from the Mornington Peninsula signalled for help by waving her arms. Her husband on a boogie board almost got into trouble going after her.

Two of the lifesavers jumped into action, Andrew McCaughtrie grapping a rescue tube and John Carruthers a rescue board, and were able to bring her quickly back to shore.

“Everything fell into place and the rescue was textbook,” Pip Thorn said.

Pip said the woman appeared to be going into shock and so was brought up to the club where she was given oxygen and wrapped in a space blanket until she recovered.

It was a dramatic patrol for first timers Karl Smith and Cyann Vlatkovic.

One of the younger volunteers then gave her lift back to the surf beach caravan park on the surf club side-by-side buggy.

The incident happened in the short period that the beach was opened to swimming on Sunday as it was closed all morning due to the rough conditions.

Pip also submitted a letter to the editor:

A surf rescue thanks

A big thank you to all the members of surf patrol C for the calm and collected way they handled a potential drowning incident on Sunday at Narooma Surf Beach.

A special mention must go to John 'Hasselhoff' Carruthers and Macca 'Anderson' McCaughtrie for their excellent board and tube rescue techniques.

It was a dramatic patrol for first timers Karl Smith and Cyann Vlatkovic.

Well done all!

Pip Thorn, patrol captain

Narooma