When the members of the primary Australian Surf Life Saving staff, born in Afghanistan, arrived of their new nation a couple of years in the past, none of them may swim.

Now they’ve gained a silver medal of their Nationwide Surf Life Saving Championships.

“I could not swim,” stated 19-year-old Sana Mosawi, recalling her first expertise with the water.

“I nonetheless keep in mind the primary time. I could not stroll within the water. It was so onerous for me.”

Sahar Ehsani, 17, was just about the identical.

“It was actually tough as a result of I had by no means been within the water earlier than,” she stated.

“I bought nervous and could not breathe, however after I realized the fundamental expertise it bought simpler.”

Of their landlocked homeland, the 5 younger girls on the staff didn’t have the chance to swim on the seashore.

There have been additionally cultural points associated to not being absolutely clothed.

These points have been addressed by the Life Saving Victoria multicultural program, run by Bonbeach Surf Life Saving Membership in South East Melbourne.

“I nonetheless really feel a bit anxious within the water, however I am positive I will not drown,” Ms. Ehsani stated.

After studying to swim, the 5 younger girls determined to take the subsequent step and be taught lifesaving expertise.

They put these expertise to the take a look at on the State Championships in Lorne on Sunday.

There have been no jet skis or lifeboats allowed, solely a rope and reel, with the rescuer having to swim within the waves with a heavy line hooked up to succeed in his goal.

Efforts serving to to reverse devastating statistics

The competitors occurred towards the backdrop of some horrible drowning months in Victoria, with 47 useless since July 2020, up 15 from the 10-year common.

Statistics from Life Saving Victoria present that individuals of various cultural and linguistic backgrounds are 1.86 instances extra more likely to drown than individuals born in Australia.

“They’ve a tough time understanding the situations, the water situations, the climate, they usually overestimate their expertise,” stated Ramzi Hussaini, head of the multicultural challenge Life Saving Victoria.

Ms Ehsani stated that turning into a life saver additionally helped her develop a way of belonging to her adopted nation.

“I needed to offer again to Australia and Life Saving Victoria, and now I really feel like I am serving to my neighborhood develop,” she stated.