Sunday’s ocean swim events pushed a number of swimmers further along Tathra Beach and away from the flagged zone at the front of the surf club.

While walking north along the beach during Sunday’s “Splash For Cash” ocean swim, Craig Hamilton of Tathra noticed a young woman laying motionless on her back under the waves.

“I was looking out at the water and saw someone who at first I thought looked very relaxed, like a fish under  water,” he said.

“A woman on the beach asked for help in a matter of fact voice.

“So, I ran like buggery all the way back to the surf club to get help.”

Once notified, surf lifesavers responded quickly and drove at speed along the beach, following two rescue boats already deployed.

By the time they reached the scene the girl, who witnesses say was aged around 15 years old, had left the beach after allegedly being rescued by swimmers.

Fellow Tathra local Jim Kelly was also walking his usual route along the beach and was nearby.

“I was walking along the beach and went up there and she was being rescued, so I just pointed the guys in wetsuits helping her away from the rips,” he said.

“She was in a rip between two sandbars.

“I’ve said to the surf club they should put a sign up near any rips as an educational tool.”

Mr Hamilton agreed with the idea.

“It’s the people who don’t know about rips who get into trouble,” he said.

After spending years using the beach as a place to relax and also keep fit, Mr Hamilton said it was usually people who did not know the location of rips and how to handle themselves when stuck in one who are most at risk on the region’s beaches - most of which are not patrolled.

“People often try and swim to shore instead of swimming sideways along the beach,” Mr Hamilton said.

“They can get into quite a bit of trouble.”

Mr Kelly said the signs could be cheaply constructed and placed along the beach near known rips during its busiest periods.