Two children, when they found themselves being swept out to sea, could have drowned.

However, quick action from Don, a Dolphin Point resident, and two surfers saw the struggling swimmers saved.

Don was there having a swim when he heard screaming.

The children's parents were screaming out for help after their children were caught in a strong current, which is a far too familiar scene.

Heavy rain and large swells make the Burrill Lake mouth particularly dangerous on the outgoing tide.

Don was glad the children's parents did not try to intervene.

"We would have had four people in trouble if they went into the water," Don said.

Don grabbed one of the rescue tubes, which are left in the area for such situations, and swam out to the water.

"I would not have gone into the water without that tube," he said.

His efforts were noticed by other beachgoers.

Two surfers helped and they reached the struggling swimmers before Don did.

The successful rescue was a joint effort and something Don has experienced too many times.

He calculates he has been involved in about 25 rescues over the years.

Once with help from his son Zane and some friends, he saved seven people from drowning in the one incident.

Related: Near drowning earlier this year

Many signs are up on the beach warning people about the danger of swimming in the area.

Don suggests there might be too many signs.

"Maybe they just need one sign clearly saying 'Do not swim here during an outgoing tide'," he said.

"Some locals avoid the area because they don't want to make rescues.

"There is even a bloke we call "Sand Crab" who tries to warn people about not going out too far - he is the first warning point of call."

Don is a good swimmer and his grandfather Ivan was an Olympian.

"I am nowhere near the swimmer he [his grandfather] was," Don said.

"However, I have been a surfer all my life and so I know how to be in the water."

An incident in Thailand years ago made him work on his swimming.

Don and others took part in a failed attempt and they could not locate the swimmer.

He then worked hard on his swimming so he could rescue people.