Trigg Beach: Girl fighting for her life after getting caught in rip with another 12-year-old

A 12-year-old girl is fighting for life after being found unresponsive in the water at Trigg Beach by a surfer.

WA Police are investigating the incident, which occurred about 6.30pm on Tuesday and unfolded in front of beachgoers days out from Christmas.

A police spokesman said they received a report that two people had been “caught in a rip and pulled out to sea”.

When officers arrived, they discovered both swimmers were 12-year-old girls.

“One of the girls was rescued by a surfer and safely brought back to shore,” the spokesman said.

“The second girl was located unresponsive in the water by the same surfer and brought to shore where police, volunteer lifeguards and two off-duty doctors commenced CPR.”

St John WA arrived at the scene and transported the girl to Perth Children’s Hospital under police escort.

Police said on Wednesday morning that the girl was in a critical condition.

Surf Life Saving WA general manager Chris Peck said members of the Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club were training on the beach at the time of the incident.

He said one surf life saver helped recover the unresponsive girl from the water in front of onlookers.

“A member of the public alerted the lifesavers, who were training, of an incident,” he said.

“They (the lifesavers) were able to come up to the surf club, they got their equipment, being the rescue boards, the ATVs, the oxygen equipment.

“They went out and recovered that person, brought them back to shore, and immediately applied CPR.”

Mr Peck said it was both “luck and fortunate” surf life savers were on the beach training at the time.

It is understood first responders used a defibrillator on the 12-year-old before she was transferred to hospital.