Last updated: 10 April 2025
Swimming is not just a recreational activity – it’s a vital skill that can save lives.
In this article, we share inspiring stories of two children, Jax and Jonas, who used the skills and knowledge gained in their lessons with Kingswim to prevent drowning incidents.
These amazing stories show how important survival swimming skills are in helping us stay safer in and around the water.
Jax: A heroic act of friendship
Jax, an eight-year-old from Mernda, was playing outside with his friend when their ball went over their pool fence and into the pool.
While Jax attempted to retrieve the ball using a pool net, his friend went to the opposite end of the pool but fell in and began to struggle.
When Jax tried to help his friend, he was pulled in as well. Despite being constantly pushed underwater, Jax reacted quickly and helped his friend towards the pool steps to safety.
Jax’s mum, Kellie, said Jax did not realise the severity of the situation until he saw the CCTV footage.
“His actual words to me were ‘he’s my mate, and I helped him. I’m not going to let my mate drown’. He didn’t have time to think about what could be – all he saw was his friend in trouble, and his natural instinct was to save him,” she said.
“I thought the incident was far less serious than it was, as both boys came inside quite nonchalant … When I [saw the CCTV], I couldn’t breathe – it was extremely difficult to watch, and I immediately saw that this could very easily have been a double tragedy.”
Jax has been enrolled in swimming lessons at Mernda Kingswim for about six years, with his other two siblings also taking part in lessons from a young age.
Kellie said while it was important to learn swimming techniques and strokes, it was equally important for children to learn water survival skills.
“I know that because of the years of lessons Jax has had, it helped him to remain calm, and to use the net as a device to assist him retrieve the ball,” she said.
“I don’t consider swimming lessons a choice – they are compulsory for my kids, and I include it in their ‘choice of extracurricular sport’.
“Swimming lessons should never be seen as an extravagant extracurricular sport – every single parent should consider them compulsory.”
Mernda Kingswim centre manager Justin White said Australians were fortunate to live close to pools and beaches, which was why it was important to know how to be safe around water.
“The skills young children learn are skills for life and can also give parents some peace of mind when away on holidays or in a backyard pool,” he said. “Jax’s story shows no matter how old you are, knowing how to react in emergency situations can save a life.”
Jonas: Quick thinking at the beach and lake
Naomi, a mum from Belconnen in Canberra, has recounted how her son’s swimming lessons at Kingswim Macgregor have helped keep him safe around water on two separate occassions.
When Jonas was five, a sudden wave at the beach knocked him off his feet. Naomi recalls, “He yelled ‘Help, help’ and put his arm up in the air with a fist, just like they get taught at Kingswim.” Responding quickly with the correct language and signals allowed Jonas’s dad to jump in and get him out of danger.
Another time, while the family was holidaying at a lake, Jonas ventured too close to the edge (despite Naomi’s warnings) and slipped into deep water. Naomi vividly remembers, “He dropped down under the water, but his head popped up, and he called for help. I yelled out, ‘Paddle, paddle, kick, kick,’ which is what they say in their swimming lessons. He did the right thing, kept his head above water, and I was able to jump in and pull him back to safety.”
The language and skills they teach, like putting your hand up and calling out for help, were instinctive for him,” Naomi explains. “It’s reassuring to know that these lessons make a difference.
The life-saving impact of survival swimming skills
Jax and Jonas were able to use their survival swimming skills to prevent possible tragedy. However, every year many kids and adults sadly lose their lives in the water.
Royal Life Saving Australia’s National Drowning Report for 2024 states that there were 323 drowning deaths in the 23/24 period. This is a 16% increase on the 10-year average.
The report’s key findings highlight that 82% of all drowning deaths were male, 83 of the deaths were people who were born overseas and 92 of the drownings were people over 65 years (the largest ever number in this group).
Young children and teens continue to have too many drowning deaths and young adults aged 20 to 24 years had a high drowning rate in the 23/24 period.
The stories of Jax and Jonas demonstrate how swimming lessons enabled them to stay calm, think quickly and act fast in an emergency. It’s crucial that parents prioritise swimming lessons for their children as an essential life skill. By doing so, we can help equip children with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to stay safer in and around water – and potentially save lives.
Kingswim teaches survival swimming skills in all learn to swim programs, and have lessons for babies aged three months to young children and adults.