Skip to main content
  1. The Dictionary of Sydney
  2. Multimedia
  3. Harold Baker, one of the heroes of the Coogee s...

Harold Baker, one of the heroes of the Coogee surf tragedy, Sydney Mail, 1 February 1911

By
Talma & Co
From the collections of the
State Library of New South Wales
[BN336]
(The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 1 February 1911, p24)

Browse

  • Browse
    • Artefacts
    • Buildings
    • Events
    • Natural Features
    • Organisations
    • People
    • Places
    • Structures
    • Entries
    • Multimedia
    • Subjects
    • Roles
    • Contributors
Connections
Subjects
Accidents and disasters Swimming
Events
Coogee Beach surf rescue 1911
People
Baker, Harold

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Copyright
  • Contact

Footer Secondary

  • Contribute
  • Donate

Talma & Co

State Library of New South Wales

Swimming

Accidents and disasters

Coogee Beach surf rescue 1911

full record »

Surf rescue attempt made by Harold Baker and James Clarken. The two men repeatedly plunged into heavy seas to rescue several people (variously reported as six to 14 people), however, four lives were lost. Baker noted that he and Clarken spotted several people in distress, and he jumped in the water fully clothed while Clarken followed with a life-line. Both men received medals from Royal Humane Society and 800 pounds was raised for their reward as well as 200 pounds for the relatives of those who had drowned.

Baker, Harold

full record »

Notable sportsman who won three New South Wales swimming championships in 1906 and captained the Australian water polo team. He played Rugby football for Australia three times against New Zealand. He also won boxing and wrestling championships and worked as a boxing referee. Once described as a 'man with a marble mouth and a jaw of steel. A man of ice with frozen eyes and a frozen voice', he became famous for his role in the Coogee Beach surf rescue of 1911.