It was a treacherous summer day in the surf on the Hunter coast earlier this year when seasoned lifeguard Mick Body saw a young girl swept from the relative safety of Newcastle Canoe Pool, past the rock shelf and into the ocean.
Mr Body, City of Newcastle's Beach Inspector, sprung into action with his colleague Luke Kelly and pulled the eight-year-old to safety.
The lifeguard, who has 20 years' experience in the job and was brought up on the region's beaches, is being recognised for his courage and professionalism in preventing an "almost certain drowning" with an Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association Meritorious Service Award.
Conditions were wild and quickly changing on the day of the rescue in January, Mr Body said yesterday, with a 14-foot swell forcing the closure of the city's beaches - meaning many people looked to the ocean baths and the canoe pool next to Newcastle beach to cool off.
"A set hit right on high tide with the rising swell and it washed a girl out ... into the surf," he said.
"Luckily she was on her body board. I just knew I had to spring into action and I just ran across the rocks and jumped in."
"It was really dangerous because we had a quick rise in swell. No-one was really prepared for it.
"It was so hard to read the ocean that day."
Luckily the child was kept afloat by the body board, which Mr Body used as a makeshift rescue board to catch a wave and get the young girl to the safety of dry land - unharmed.
"She was in a lot of shock. It just happened so quickly," he said.
"Even the parents, they didn't know how to respond."
Mr Body said he was pleased the rescue avoided an "almost certain drowning".
"During large swells waves engulf the canoe pool and then bounce off the side of the ocean baths creating a strong side wash which catches people by surprise," he said.
"As lifeguards we have the best office in the world. Every day is new and that is exciting. The beauty of working on the beach is that we are ambassadors for our city and meet people from all over who come here to enjoy themselves."
Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Mr Body and the city's other lifeguards provided "an absolutely invaluable service to our community".
"Without Mick's bravery, advanced skills and knowledge of the beach, the outcome would have certainly been a tragic one," Cr Nelmes said.
"I'm proud that this incredible effort has been acknowledged on a national stage and I thank all of our lifeguards for their daily acts of kindness, bravery and courage."
