ORANGE Aquatic Centre staff have been praised for their response after a 19-year-old woman injured her back diving from the 10-metre platform on Wednesday evening.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mayor Reg Kidd said when the woman landed in the water and was clearly in distress, a lifeguard was in the water to assist her in a matter of seconds.
“When it became clear a spinal support board and oxygen mask and tank were needed, other lifeguards were quickly on hand to provide that support,” he said.
I’m proud of the way they responded.
- Mayor Reg Kidd
“A team of three lifeguards were quickly able to get the young woman onto the board and support her in the water. At the same time, another lifeguard was on the phone to the ambulance crews talking with them as they drove to the scene.”
Cr Kidd said extra skills were needed for the rescue given it occurred in five metre-deep water and another team of staff was ready to relieve the lifeguards in the water.
“This is where the hours of training, practice and teamwork kicks in,” he said.
“I’m proud of the way they responded.”
He said the aquatic centre had strict rules in place to make sure people who used the diving tower and diving boards had been through assessment and training, with a lifeguard on duty at the diving pool whenever the tower was open.
Paramedics responded just before 6pm and took her to Orange Health Service in stable condition where she was later released.
NSW Ambulance confirmed the woman injured her back during the dive.
Centre management closed the 50-metre pool due to the extra staff needed to respond to the incident and only squad swimming continued in the 25-metre pool.
The facility opened as normal on Thursday.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below …