Adriel To The Rescue In Greece

By Duncan Horscroft on April 7, 2016 in People

It’s hard to imagine what it is like for refugees leaving their war-torn homeland in hope of a better life in another country and the life-threatening risks they take in an effort to realise that dream.

We are sometimes quick to make rash comments on the plight of these desperate people but, as most of us have not experienced this crisis first-hand, we really have no idea of what goes on other than what we see on television.
Scenes like the bodies of young children lying on beaches are hard to come to terms with no matter what nationality or religion they are.

One person who has experienced this human tragedy up front is Bondi lifeguard Adriel ‘Bacon’ Young.

The 28-year-old has just spent time on the Greek island of Samos with Sjöräddningssällskapet (Swedish Sea Rescue Society) as a rescue swimmer to help in the current refugee crisis.

“Most of the refugees are from Syria, but we also rescued a lot from Afghanistan and Iraq,” Adriel said.

As part of a two-team boat operation, he helped with one rescue of 194 people, with one small rubber boat carrying around 80 people (“a boat that should carry 10 people at the very most”).

“My skills both in the water and medically were perfect for my role in Greece,” Adriel said.

“Also the stress level that we get at Bondi helps when we are rescuing boats carrying up to 80 people.

“You really need to be thinking of everything and have a good overview of what’s going on around you.”

He said he thought he was good at distancing himself from the emotional side of the crisis, but at times it was very tough.
“It’s hard to explain the feeling when a mum shoves her one-month-old baby into your hands from an overcrowded rubber boat and you can’t help but feel for these people and what they are going through.

“I had seen videos of what goes on, but it’s nothing like when you’re there face-to-face pulling these people to safety.”

Adriel said the work was very intense and that the short time he spent on Samos was mentally and physically draining, but offsetting those emotions was the satisfaction of helping people survive.

“People that know me well know that I am good at distancing myself from the emotional side,” he said. “All I want to do is make sure I have done everything in my power to make sure that no lives are lost.

“However, it really is desperation. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated the opportunity to be there and to be able to put my skills to use.

“I jumped at the opportunity to be able to put my skills to such a good cause. These people are just like you and I – the only difference is I am just lucky at the amazing country I was born in.”

Adriel will be heading back to Sydney soon to organise the inaugural SwimRun Australia event at Rose Bay on May 14, but his work in Greece is not over.

“After that I will be heading back to Samos for another stint,” he said.