Coalcliff’s iconic Beach to Bombie ocean swim celebrates an inspiring recovery

By James McFarlane, president of Coalcliff SLSC

The Dave Winner Beach to Bombie Swim made a triumphant return for its second year on November 16, with more than 80 swimmers tackling the 2km course.

Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club, with support from Equilibrium Healthcare and Ohana Ocean Athletics, organise the annual event, which brings together competitive athletes, recreational ocean lovers, and a passionate local community along one of the Illawarra’s most breathtaking stretches of coastline.

The 2km course begins at Coalcliff Beach, goes out to the Bombie reef break, around the marker buoys and back to shore. This year's event again showcased the best of Coalcliff – its beauty, friendly spirit, and commitment to surf safety.

Harry Came (M 20–29) claimed victory in 23:40 (1.5 km), while Ivy Gerstner (F 15–19) delivered an exceptional performance, finishing second overall in 25:06 and securing the women’s division title.

Bringing this event to life is a whole-of-club effort, and our members take enormous pride in delivering it each year in honour of Dave Winner. His legacy as our long-time Chief Training Officer continues to shape the culture of Coalcliff SLSC, and this swim is our way of celebrating the impact he’s had on surf safety, our volunteers, and the wider community.

A swim with a powerful purpose

Since 2023, the event has carried profound meaning for Coalcliff SLSC and the broader community. It now honours Dave Winner, a beloved life member whose extraordinary survival story has become a national call to action.

In 2021, Dave suffered a catastrophic surfing accident at Coalcliff Beach – breaking his neck, drowning, and going into cardiac arrest. His life was saved only because nearby bystanders knew CPR. In a remarkable twist, one of them had been trained by Dave himself during his years as Coalcliff’s Chief Instructor.

“One day, the life you save may be mine,” Dave often told his students. In 2021, those words proved true.

Following his recovery as a partial quadriplegic, Dave launched the Dave Winner Foundation with an ambitious mission: to train one million Australians in CPR for free by 2030. Supported by the IMB Bank Community Foundation, the organisation now delivers free online and in-person CPR courses nationwide and is developing a new CPR training app designed to put life-saving knowledge at every Australian’s fingertips.

“The day that I had my accident, when I broke my neck and drowned and went into cardiac arrest, the ocean decided to throw me back onto the rocks, and two young blokes knew how to do CPR,” Dave said. “If they weren’t there and didn’t know what to do, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Looking ahead to 15 November 2026

With strong momentum, heartfelt community support, and a growing national impact, Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club is excited to confirm that the next Dave Winner Beach to Bombie Swim will return on 15 November 2026.

The club looks forward to welcoming swimmers, spectators, volunteers, and supporters to celebrate ocean culture, community spirit, and the life-saving legacy of Dave Winner.