On Wednesday 4 May 1983, large waves at metropolitan beaches led to a young surfer, William Heatley, being knocked unconscious by his surfboard at Trigg Point. He was rescued by fellow surfers, transported via 4WD to the Trigg Surf Life Saving Club, then taken by ambulance to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where he was reported in stable condition.
1983 Media report of rescue drama in the surf. Courtesy The West Australian 5 May 2025.
Mark Wells’ recalls the rescue. “Trigg point on the biggest day I have seen out there in 1983. The guy’s name was William Heatley and he got caught inside behind the point reef. After some sets cleared, a few of us noticed a surfboard corking and paddled over and a pulled this fella up from the bottom with his leg rope. He was very blue and frothing badly. We got him further out the back away from the constant sets. Rod Wylde went to work on him clearing the froth and giving him mouth to mouth. He seemed to be coming good so we got further south and started working him into the beach. It was intense and Rod saved this guy’s life. We got to him to shore and Ken Vidler came rushing in and took over. Rod Wylde, Brent Stewart, Mal Norton and myself were the guys who plucked him up and got him back to shore. He was not a regular surfer at the point. He owes his life to Rod Wylde!”
1988 Mark Wells competing State Round at Trigg Point.
A photo of rescuer Rod Wylde was featured in a major article on page 3 of Perth’s Daily News.
1983 Rescuer Rod Wylde at Trigg Point. Photo courtesy the Daily News WA.
Brent Stewart. “The surf report on 96fm called that day at the point ‘Big Wednesday’.
1980s Brent Stewart at Trigg Beach. Web pic.
Below is a Facebook post by surfer and photographer John Small, dated 15 February 2016. It includes comments by Trigg Point surfers.
John Small 50 Years of Surfing WA Another one from the garage, Thursday May 5th, 1983, Triggs was big clean and peeling when William Heatly was fortunate to have fellow surfers around him when things went wrong.
Comments
Greg Budgen I remember seeing a board floating after a set. Someone grabbed this guy and brought him to the surface … I freaked when I saw his blue head
Brent Stewart Brings back memories – this was after the surf report at 96fm called that day at the Point ‘Big Wednesday’ – every man and his dog was at the Point. It was Rod Wilde and I that found him and dragged him in with everyone joining in. That’s Rod in the top photo and me in the bottom one. Jeff Vidler ran down the beach and started resuscitating him and he literally spewed gallons of water. When he came around, he bizarrely started reciting passages from Number 96, the Australian soap that was on TV at the time. He was indeed blue but he was alive and auditioning for a TV show!!! Rod was a legend, we got a pounding in the impact zone before others got to us but Jeff Vidler – to give a spewing blue head mouth to mouth…..respect! I on the other hand used the news interview the next day to give unashamed plugs for my surf school.
Ross Fleming This day was Insane…Looks like Mal Norton as well …Good Rescue Legends. MT on a 7’6 and so many charging.
Peter Andreassen I remember Big Wednesday, it was A day of days….
Mark Wells I was in that mix. Will was behind the reef submerged with his board corking after a big set cleared. We managed to get him up and moved him out to sea and south away from the sets. He was blue and frothing badly. Rod Wilde went to work on him clearing the froth and giving him mouth to mouth. Rod saved this guy’s life. Eventually we got through the line up and to shallow water when others took over. It was an extremely tense situation. Rod saved this guy’s life without doubt for me with what he did out the back before we got him in. It was the biggest and most consistent surf I have seen at the Point. Wellsy
Geoff ArchdeaconRoss Fleming I reckon we’ve all pulled People out of the poo. I got a dad, mun n son out 1 day from right near barnacles. They were in the blue hole summer rip n heading for trouble.
Bonus Pic
1984. Chaotic conditions at Trigg Point. Photo courtesy Paul Hardie.
On Wednesday 4 May 1983, large waves at metropolitan beaches led to a young surfer, William Heatley, being knocked unconscious by his surfboard at Trigg Point. He was rescued by fellow surfers, transported via 4WD to the Trigg Surf Life Saving Club, then taken by ambulance to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where he was reported in stable condition.
1983 Media report of rescue drama in the surf. Courtesy The West Australian 5 May 2025.
Mark Wells’ recalls the rescue. “Trigg point on the biggest day I have seen out there in 1983. The guy’s name was William Heatley and he got caught inside behind the point reef. After some sets cleared, a few of us noticed a surfboard corking and paddled over and a pulled this fella up from the bottom with his leg rope. He was very blue and frothing badly. We got him further out the back away from the constant sets. Rod Wylde went to work on him clearing the froth and giving him mouth to mouth. He seemed to be coming good so we got further south and started working him into the beach. It was intense and Rod saved this guy’s life. We got to him to shore and Ken Vidler came rushing in and took over. Rod Wylde, Brent Stewart, Mal Norton and myself were the guys who plucked him up and got him back to shore. He was not a regular surfer at the point. He owes his life to Rod Wylde!”
1988 Mark Wells competing State Round at Trigg Point.
A photo of rescuer Rod Wylde was featured in a major article on page 3 of Perth’s Daily News.
1983 Rescuer Rod Wylde at Trigg Point. Photo courtesy the Daily News WA.
Brent Stewart. “The surf report on 96fm called that day at the point ‘Big Wednesday’.
1980s Brent Stewart at Trigg Beach. Web pic.
Below is a Facebook post by surfer and photographer John Small, dated 15 February 2016. It includes comments by Trigg Point surfers.
John Small 50 Years of Surfing WA Another one from the garage, Thursday May 5th, 1983, Triggs was big clean and peeling when William Heatly was fortunate to have fellow surfers around him when things went wrong.
Comments
Greg Budgen I remember seeing a board floating after a set. Someone grabbed this guy and brought him to the surface … I freaked when I saw his blue head
Brent Stewart Brings back memories – this was after the surf report at 96fm called that day at the Point ‘Big Wednesday’ – every man and his dog was at the Point. It was Rod Wilde and I that found him and dragged him in with everyone joining in. That’s Rod in the top photo and me in the bottom one. Jeff Vidler ran down the beach and started resuscitating him and he literally spewed gallons of water. When he came around, he bizarrely started reciting passages from Number 96, the Australian soap that was on TV at the time. He was indeed blue but he was alive and auditioning for a TV show!!! Rod was a legend, we got a pounding in the impact zone before others got to us but Jeff Vidler – to give a spewing blue head mouth to mouth…..respect! I on the other hand used the news interview the next day to give unashamed plugs for my surf school.
Scott Collinson That is an epic tale
Ross Fleming This day was Insane…Looks like Mal Norton as well …Good Rescue Legends. MT on a 7’6 and so many charging.
Peter Andreassen I remember Big Wednesday, it was A day of days….
Mark Wells I was in that mix. Will was behind the reef submerged with his board corking after a big set cleared. We managed to get him up and moved him out to sea and south away from the sets. He was blue and frothing badly. Rod Wilde went to work on him clearing the froth and giving him mouth to mouth. Rod saved this guy’s life. Eventually we got through the line up and to shallow water when others took over. It was an extremely tense situation. Rod saved this guy’s life without doubt for me with what he did out the back before we got him in. It was the biggest and most consistent surf I have seen at the Point. Wellsy
Geoff Archdeacon Ross Fleming I reckon we’ve all pulled People out of the poo. I got a dad, mun n son out 1 day from right near barnacles. They were in the blue hole summer rip n heading for trouble.
Bonus Pic
1984. Chaotic conditions at Trigg Point. Photo courtesy Paul Hardie.
Thanks to the contributors.
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