While their patrol captain was out in the IRB a rather solid mature gentleman staggered up to the patrol shelter and announced to Jane and Julie that he had been dumped and had hurt his neck. He then promptly laid himself down on his back in front of the shelter and held his neck....

Grazes were clearly visible on the man's forehead. Jane and Julie immediately stabilised the man's head and neck and began monitoring their patient. Initially the man, although uncomfortable, was not in pain. The girls radioed for an ambulance.
Unfortunately the copter was landing at this time and cut in across their first transmission. A second request for an ambulance was made. By this time the man's family had begun to gather around.

They were sat down in the shade where they could communicate with their father and husband. Then the News crew arrived throwing the girls into a panic: Did they look ok? Had they time to put their shorts on?
With these crises solved the girls, the patient, the patrol, the family, the News crew, and the onlookers settled down to wait the 40mins it took for the ambulance to arrive. During this time the patient did become more uncomfortable and his injury was causing him discomfort.

Just as the girls had decided that, despite the fact that it may cause the patient and his family additional distress, they should encourage the man to use oxygen, the ambulance arrived.
The man was transferred onto the paramedics spinal board, was transported from the beach in our 4WD and transferred into the waiting ambulance.

The man was released from hospital later the same day, but was given a week off of work and had to wear a soft collar. The man's son who works in a trauma ward had nothing but praise for the way the girls dealt with his father.
The Beach Inspector who was on duty was very impressed at the girls' professionalism, and the man himself was so pleased with his treatment that his wife washed the towels the girls had used to stabilise his head and neck and he returned them the next week with a box of chocolates.

This was also followed by a thank you note to the club with a lotto ticket for the girls. I guess this guy thought that he had already won lotto by being fortunate enough to be treated by two outstanding lifesavers.