15/03/2026 - Coalcliff SLSC, Coalcliff
Event Details
The Coalcliff SLSC Lifeguard Challenge’ for the ‘Dave Winner Foundation’ will take place on the 15th March, 2026 at 11am at Coalcliff Beach.
The event will promote the ‘Dave Winner Foundation’. In 2021, Dave Winner survived a near drowning and spinal injury while surfing at Coalcliff beach that has left him a partial quadriplegic. Knocked unconscious and submerged underwater for more than three minutes, Dave’s life hung in the balance. Thanks to the swift actions of bystanders and their proficiency in CPR, Dave was rescued and airlifted to safety.” Dave had actually trained in CPR some of the people who performed CPR on him. His personal experience has only reinforced his advocacy for the importance of CPR training across the community. Since this accident. Dave has established the ‘Dave Winner Foundation’ with the goal of seeing one million Australians trained in CPR for free.
The Lifeguard Challenge is a great opportunity to publicise the Foundation and help Dave to achieve his community CPR goal.
Dave is a Life Member of Coalcliff SLSC and is a winner of multiple Surf Life Saving Awards and accolades. Dave continues to be an active patroller and the club’s chief training officer. Dave’s courage, resilience, and tenacity as he continues to recover from his accident has been an inspiration to so many people who have heard his story.
Lifeguard teams from all coastal Councils from Shellharbour to Palm Beach will be invited to compete.
There is no limit to how many lifeguards enter from each Council.
The top three finishers from each Council team will see their placing count towards their teams’ final point score.
There will be individual and team champion trophies awarded on the day.
The course will be based on the Apola Mission Test and will require competitors to complete a 400m beach run, 600m swim, followed by 400m beach run, followed by 600m rescue board paddle, and concluding with an 400m beach run. (The run may be restricted depending on the condition of Coalcliff beach on the day.)
The event will be supported by the full Surf Life Saving water safety resources.
The event will allow the public to witness some of Australia’s most elite ocean athletes showcasing their skills at a spectacular location, while promoting the ‘Dave Winner Foundation’.
