I had a stroke during an ocean swim. Most people passed by unaware. One didn’t

When Graham Russell set out for a dip in powerful wintry surf, he had no idea the beach where he had helped save lives as a surf lifesaver would become the place where his own was changed

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t was an exhilarating day in every possible way. Standing on the cold sand on a Sunday morning, I saw the sun flash off powerful surf as it curved into whitewater that rushed up the beach. The sound of it boomed around the nearby cliffs. The passing clouds threw dark green patches across the frothy water, the air was crisp and dry. Today’s swim promised to be great.

The members of my winter swimming club were pulling on cozzies, bright pink swimming caps and goggles as they assessed the challenging conditions. The car park was jammed with surfers from all around. Word had spread that MacMasters beach here on the NSW central coast was the place to experience this monstrous east swell.

After sizing up the ocean, most swimmers opted to stay in the shallows where they could still stand up, or headed to the protected rockpool to do a few laps. After all, the only rule of the winter swimming club is to get your head wet.