Police have praised the efforts of four teenage boys who helped three other young people swept out by a rip at a Tasmanian beach.
About 4:30pm on Saturday, police say they received a report from “concerned community members” after “three youths had been caught in a rip and swept approximately 50 metres from the shore toward the blowhole” at Blackmans Bay Beach, south of Hobart.
“Shortly before police arrival, four teenage boys at the scene entered the water and successfully rescued the three youths (aged 16, 15 and 12) — preventing a potential tragedy,” police said in a statement.
“While police do not encourage members of the public to enter the water to conduct rescues beyond their capabilities, on this occasion the teenagers involved were confident and capable in open-water conditions.”
The three rescued youths were transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital in a stable condition, police said.