Simon Forshaw and his son Hamish Forshaw have received NSW Ambulance Certificates of Recognition for their rescue of two small children at Stanwell Park in 2025. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Hamish Forshaw is a sensible kid. So sensible that when his dad Simon took him for a surf at Stanwell Park in September 2025, he took one look at the conditions and decided to pass on paddling out that day.
Less than an hour later he didn’t hesitate to jump in in those same conditions when he saw two children swept away by the powerful surf.
Simon had just paddled in when he realised Hamish wasn’t on the beach.
He looked back and saw his son staggering in through the whitewash with a small boy in his arms.
Hamish yelled to his dad that another child, a nine-year-old girl, had been swept out, too. Simon grabbed his board and jumped straight back in.
Clear-headed as ever, Hamish urged a group of adults on the beach to call triple zero.
“All I was thinking when I was diving into the water was, ‘I have to get to him; I can’t let him drown,'” Hamish said.
“When I got to the boy his face was down in the water.
“I grabbed him and began to swim in but we got caught by a massive wave.
“I started to drag him because I was so tired.
“It was really scary conditions; I was glad I managed to hold onto him and get him in safely.”
Hamish has a younger sister and said he kept thinking about the loss the little boy’s family and friends would suffer if anything happened to him.
Meanwhile, three surfers had rushed to Simon’s aid as he battled to get the young girl back to shore on his bodyboard.
When they finally made it he collapsed on the beach, exhausted, just in time for Surf Life Savers and paramedics to arrive.
Simon said he was incredibly proud of Hamish’s actions.
So is his community.
Simon and Hamish were recently awarded NSW Ambulance Certificates of Recognition in honour of their heroic actions that saved two young lives.
“At the time I was just relieved he was OK,” Simon said.
“To see him recognised for his efforts today is a very special moment.
“Hamish acted calmly and decisively; it just shows what he’s capable of.
“It makes me feel proud and a little bit inadequate as a grown adult.”
Six months on from the rescue, Hamish said it was rewarding to know he had made a difference.
“When I found out about the award I felt proud of myself for how I acted that day,” he said.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan said Hamish and Simon’s actions were an example of the very best of the Australian community.
“Lots of people think they know how they would react in an emergency, and often in reality they don’t react that way,” he said.
“Here you have an 11-year-old boy who has had the presence of mind to take control and instruct grown adults to ring triple-0 and save those children’s lives.
“That is unique, and that is something he will be able to wear proudly for the rest of his life.”
