President Scott Meaker, Tony Rettke, Warren Page and Therese and Dennis Wheatley were at the clubhouse for a meeting when a phone call came in saying a rescue was required at the wharf.

Mr Meaker and Mr Rettke immediately took rescue tubes to the wharf leaving others to follow up with additional equipment.

In about three minutes they were on the scene where police pointed to a man struggling to hold on to a rope and a makeshift float - a child’s car booster seat which had been thrown in by a bystander.

Mr Rettke secured the conscious patient with a rescue tube and swam him away from the wharf to avoid the pylons.

The man was Rob Brown, who had jumped into the water to try and save the children and Mr O’Neill

Mr Meaker then swam around under the wharf but had limited visibility.

At this time there was no sign of where the other victims were, despite Mr Meaker “duck-diving” with no result.

Mr Brown was then towed to the wharf ladder, which took the combined efforts of both men.

Mr Meaker followed the patient up the ladder to the wharf making sure he did not fall.

Immediately after getting back up on the wharf, a police officer told Mr Meaker she could see the others.

Mr Meaker immediately jumped back in and swam towards the bodies, grabbing 15-month-old Travis and Mr O’Neill, who were both floating unconscious and not breathing.

He swam these patients out from under the wharf and started to bring them towards the ladder while Mr Rettke and his son Shayne re-entered the water.

Mr Rettke then found four-year-old Riley and brought him toward the ladder.

Shayne then conducted a further search under the wharf on a rescue boogie board until it was confirmed all patients had been located.

Mr O’Neill was floated on the board while Mr Meaker and Mr Rettke carried the children up the ladder.