A 32-year-old man has been rescued from the Warriewood Blowhole after being washed against rocks and suffering leg injuries, in the first major rescue of the new surf lifesaving season.
The man was at the coastal swimming location with a friend on Sunday, 4 October, when he reportedly took in seawater and got into difficulty. His companion helped him out of the water, but the man sustained injuries to his legs after being pushed against the rocks. A Triple Zero call shortly after 2:30 p.m. prompted a response from police, paramedics and surf lifesaving crews, who faced the task of bringing both men safely back from the rocky shoreline.
A Rescue Route Through The Water
While NSW Police and NSW Ambulance attended the cliffs above the blowhole along Narrabeen Park Parade, lifesavers from Warriewood and North Narrabeen approached from the water. The patrols deployed inflatable rescue boats (IRBs) and a jet-ski around the headland, allowing rescuers to reach the rock platform where the men were located. Lifesavers swam to the rocks and checked the injured man’s condition before deciding how to evacuate him.
Although shaken by the ordeal, the 32-year-old was considered fit enough to make the return journey by water. With help from his friend and the lifesavers, he jumped back into the ocean and climbed onto the rear of the waiting jet-ski. A lifesaver steadied him as they travelled back towards Warriewood Beach.
His companion, who had not been injured, followed a separate route to safety. He jumped from the rock platform and swam towards an inflatable rescue boat, where he was collected and taken back to shore. Both men were met at Warriewood Beach by NSW Ambulance paramedics and officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command.
The injured man’s parents also arrived after hearing about the emergency from his friend. Paramedics assessed him for possible seawater aspiration and treated minor cuts to his legs before giving him the all-clear shortly before 3.30 p.m. He subsequently left the beach with his family.
A Familiar Danger Beyond The Patrol Flags
The rescue adds to a history of emergencies at Warriewood Blowhole, where Surf Life Saving NSW has repeatedly warned about the risks associated with swimming and fishing around the rocky formation. Despite previous warnings, the location reportedly experiences at least one major rescue operation each year on average.
The blowhole is also listed as an unpatrolled location by Surf Life Saving Australia’s Beachsafe service, distinguishing it from the nearby patrolled swimming areas at Warriewood and North Narrabeen beaches.
Beachsafe advises swimmers to use beaches patrolled by lifesavers and remain between the red and yellow flags. Its guidance also notes that surf conditions can change, making an understanding of local conditions important when entering the water.
Published 6-October-2026
