What began as a typical morning mowing the esplanade at Elliott Heads saw Bundaberg Regional Council’s Ashlin (Jacko) Chapman become an unlikely hero.
A Plant Operator with the Parks team, Ashlin was in the middle of his usual coastal maintenance duties last month when he spotted something unusual offshore.
Little did he know that his instincts and the actions that followed would ultimately help save a life.
“I was working down at Elliott Heads mowing the esplanade, driving along [when] I caught something out of my eye in the ocean,” Ashlin said.
“I turned to look and it was a woman offshore bobbing up and down in a kayak.”
With seas swelling around two metres and the woman seemingly going nowhere, Ashlin kept a close eye on her, concerned as she repeatedly disappeared from view in the rough water.
It wasn’t until his colleague Peter arrived that the situation took a serious turn.
“I turned to talk to Peter and when I looked back, she was gone,” he said Ashlin immediately sprang into action, climbing up on a park bench
to try to regain sight of the kayaker.
Nearby locals joined in the search, initially thinking Ashlin was whale watching – but the gravity of the situation quickly became clear.
He then made the emergency call that set a complex and multi-agency rescue into motion.
Police arrived on the scene followed by a rescue team, which included a rescue chopper diverted from Hervey Bay.
‘When they eventually got to her, she was about 500 metres offshore,” he said.
Throughout it all, Ashlin continued to assist – this time by using his Council tractor’s flashing lights as a marker to help guide rescuers.
After what he estimates to be nearly two hours of observation and coordination, the kayaker was finally brought to safety and managed to escape the ordeal with a few minor bruises.
Ashlin, who has worked with Bundaberg Regional Council for 15 years and on the coastal stretch for the past three, admitted the experience had stuck with him.
“I have been thinking about it a lot – like what would have happened if I hadn’t seen her,” he said.
“In that moment the biggest feeling I had was helplessness because there was nothing I could physically do for her.
“I just thought, ‘am I going to watch you drown?’.
“At one stage she was waving frantically and I flashed the tractor light at her just to let her know I had her in my sight and that help was on
the way.”
In the face of all of this Ashlin stayed calm and focused, doing everything in his power to ensure a successful rescue.
His quick thinking, care for the community and commitment to doing the right thing is an outstanding example of what it means to “be the best we can” – the marker used to ensure all staff are living Council’s values.
These values were also recognised by Surf Life Saving Queensland through a personal message of thanks:
“Your attentiveness and timely response played a vital role in ensuring a successful outcome, and we are truly grateful,” the message said.
“On behalf of Surf Life Saving Queensland, thank you once again for your commitment and dedication to the safety of our community.”
Despite the recognition, Ashlin remains humble and grateful he was in the right place at the right time.
“I feel a little bit chuffed but you know, it’s just something you do.
You hope other people would do the same thing for you.”
