Near drowning at Burrill Beach prompts Canberra woman's search for rescuers

Krystle Vicencio and her cousin came over to enjoy their second trip to the coast on Sunday, December 6.

After stopping in at South Durras, the pair quickly decided to move on after realising the unpatrolled beach was beyond their swimming capabilities.

They thought they'd hit the jackpot at Burrill Beach.

"It looked so beautiful and I was excited and taking photos and saying we have to take everyone to this spot because it looks like a swimming pool but it's a beach," Krystle said.

"We saw everyone walking in waist deep water so we thought it was safe."

Burrill Beach features warning signs advising of a strong current, but has seen several drownings in past years.

Krystle and her cousin entered through the rocks, without seeing the warning signs, and tried to reach the sandbar in the middle but were quickly swept up in a rip.

While her cousin managed to make it to shore, Krystle wasn't so lucky. She tried treading water, but as a non-swimmer, she said it wasn't long before she began to panic and yelled out for help.

Fortunately, a woman who'd been watching nearby with her dog came straight to her side, along with a man who later helped get her back to shore with his paddle board.

Andrew and Aga safely helped her back to safety and took time to explain the conditions to her.

Krystle is enormously grateful to the pair and would like to personally thank them.

"If anybody knows them and can put me in touch I'd really appreciate it because I was just so lucky, and it's only because they were there," she said.

"We took one wrong step, and being from Canberra we don't know the coast or the conditions."

While she may return again, Krystle said she won't ever be getting in the water.

If anyone knows Aga or Andrew who came to Krystle's aid, please contact nicolette.pickard@austcommunitymedia.com.au