ECKSTEIN AND THE AUSSIES DRAW FIRST BLOOD AT RESCUE 2012

Posted in Other News

RESCUE 2012, Adelaide, November 5, 2012: Australia has drawn first blood on the opening day of the World Life Saving Championships with Shannon Eckstein leading his team to a convincing double in the opening pool events at Rescue 2012.

Eckstein captained his team of Andrew Bowden, Christina Ruiz and Pamela Hendry to an eye-catching win in the open Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) taking the victory over Norway and Canada.

Pic:: Andrew Bowden and Pamela Hendry carry out a mass rescue in the Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) at the South Australia Aquatic & Leisure Centre.

Within 30 minutes the Australian Youth Team had made it a double for the home team when the team of Keelan Bridge, Sam Earp, Alisha Ellwood and Rachelle King showed their rescue skills to lower Canada’s colours with Japan an eye-catching third.

Eckstein, the three-time World Ironman champion and one of Australia’s most decorated lifesavers, showed why he is regarded as one of the world’s best and why he will be inducted into the International Lifesaving Hall of Fame on Thursday night.

Pic:: Australian Captain Shannon Eckstein directs his team Andrew Bowden, Pamela Hendry and Christina Ruiz at the Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) at the South Australia Aquatic & Leisure Centre.

He directed his team in a mass rescue situation that had a two-minute time-limit and the Australians were the only team to reach every patient in the required time in what was easily the most impressive display of the day.

It was the third World Championship victory win in a row for the Australians in a competition which requires the rescuers to assess and then rescue patients in drowning situations, spread across the eight lane 50m pool – including two submerged manikins

Pic:: Australian Captain Shannon Eckstein adopts a handle with care approach at the Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) at the South Australia Aquatic & Leisure Centre.

The open scenario, which attracted 25 teams, also required the teams to assess an unconscious poolside patient, who had suffered an electric shock.

It was a case of practice makes perfect for the Aussies.

Pic:: Christina Ruiz carries out a rescue tube rescue at the Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) at the South Australia Aquatic & Leisure Centre.

“We had certainly done the practice that’s for sure and it paid off,” said Eckstein, who captained the SERC team for the first time in his international career.

“I was a rescuer when we won in Egypt in 2010 and to captain this team in such an event is a real adrenalin rush.

‘We had to wait around until it was our turn (17th of 25 teams) and you’ve got only two minutes to perform all the rescues and our guys did a great job.

“Andrew is very good and the two girls Christina and Pamela are also very strong and performed those rescues very well.

“It’s not easy to sum everything up and do it all in two minutes – you are still pumped well after the event.”

Eckstein said it was a great start for the Australians who have gone to a six-point lead over arch-rivals New Zealand, whose star-studded Olympic team of Steve Kent, Steven Ferguson, Andrew McMillan and Kevin Morrison were fourth.

But the Australians are not going to rest on their laurels and knows that the next two days of pool competition, before they hit the ocean and the beach on the weekend, will be crucial to their title defence.

“It’s not going to easy, we know the Kiwis and the European nations are going to be tough but we’re ready for the challenge,” said Eckstein.

RESULTS

RESCUE 2012 Life Saving World Championships, Adelaide Aquatic Centre Day 1:

Open Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) - 1.AUS (261.3) A Bowden S Eckstein P Hendry C Ruiz 2.NOR (246) R Ingebrigtsen M Johnsen S Nilsson R Palm 3.CAN (225.8) J Anderson G Findlay-Shirras N Giraldo W Walters 4.NZL (225.5) S Ferguson S Kent A McMillan K Morrison 5.GBR (224.5) S Henderson A Kane E Parker S Worne 6.FRA (206.8) J Despergers J Lalanne A Lux F Manciet.

U/19 (SERC) - 1.AUS K Bridge S Earp A Ellwood R King 2.CAN T Donnolly Z Lausten C Stoner D Sullivan 3. JPN M Kobayashi A Minagawa R Sakamoto M Takahashi 4.NZL T Harris S Shergold C Dawson B Quilter 5.ESP J Bas G Mateo I Morales J Verges 6.USA C Adkins I Bateman A Ford J Schulte.

TOMORROW’S ACTION:

National Teams (Pool Competition) – Finals from 2.30pm – South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre

World Masters (Surf) – From 8am – Christies Beach

World Masters (Beach) – From 4pm – Glenelg

Pic:: Christina Ruiz and Pamela Hendry show their rescue skills at the Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) at the South Australia Aquatic & Leisure Centre.

ABOUT RESCUE 2012

Rescue 2012 will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, from November 7-18, 2012 and will include five separate competitions - World National Team Championships, World Interclub Championships, World Masters Championships, World Surf Boat Championships, and World Inflatable Rescue Boat Championships.

Rescue 2012 is open to all proficient lifesavers. The Masters competition is open to all proficient lifesavers who are 30 years of age or above.

Athletes can compete in nine separate disciplines - swimming, simulated emergency rescue, Ironman / Ironwoman, surf-ski, board, beach sprints, beach flags, surf boats and IRB.

Beach, National Teams and all IRB events will be held at Glenelg Beach.

Christies Beach will be the home of all Masters, Interclub and Surf Boat events.

The South Australian State Aquatic and Leisure Centre will host all Pool events.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION CLICK HERE

Attention all media who intend covering Rescue 2012, that Media Accreditation is for working media only and accreditation forms MUST be signed off by your editor before accreditation will be processed. A reminder also that Rescue 2012 will have its own official photographer in Harvie Allison (Harvpix.com ) who will distribute to all media outlets. Freelance photographers who are uploading for their own websites WILL NOT be accredited. ONLY photographers working for newspapers and registered agencies will receive accreditation.

Issued on behalf of Rescue 2012.