Steve Kudzius doesn’t feel comfortable talking about himself. He would not like more than this story to be told only with the most fleeting of the references to his contribution. Better yet, no mention.
The only problem for Kudzius is that without him and his heroics and his PTSD and his hundreds of thousands of dollars, there is no Rip Current Rescue International.
“One thing I know after decades in this game is getting funding for a project like this is so difficult, almost impossible,” says Gold Coast filmmaker Jason Markland, who created a local security documentary after a drowning north of New South Wales. Fingal Head in 2016 and is now producing an international version thanks to the financial support of Kudzius, one of the key rescuers of that day.
“It’s so complicated and that’s why it’s a blessing to have someone like Steve come on board. He’s incredibly humble and reluctant to be pushed in front of anything. He’d rather be behind the scenes, but he understands that people connect with his story.”
Erin and Steve Kudzius (left) with Gold Coast filmmaker Jason Markland in Fingal Head, where the rescue of a young woman turned into a tragedy, inspiring the trio to create current security documentaries. Photo: David Maurice Smith / The Guardian
Kudzius ’story is full of many of the things readers connect with: drama and tragedy, pain and hope.
On Good Friday 2016, half a dozen people rushed to the aid of a young family when their seven-year-old daughter was dragged into the sea by a tear on Dreamtime’s un patrolled beach. In chaotic scenes that lasted up to 30 minutes, their bodies were mistreated while protecting Rihanna Milabo from the irregular rocks and 2m waves.
Kudzius, a local from Fingal, played a vital role in putting a boat in the water and plunging the girl and a rescuer to shore, where the latter was resurrected. He then returned to pick up another rescuer and retrieve the body of Ryan Martin, who drowned while saving the girl’s life.
The death of the 30-year-old was one of several current tragedies that have affected the small community of Fingal. Looking across the border, Markland launched a campaign to create what he says was the world’s first security documentary.
He teamed up with Rip Rip expert, Professor Robert Brander, also known as Dr. Rip. He reached a production agreement with National Geographic Australia. He then located Kudzius and asked him to help bring the tragic events of Good Friday 2016 to life on the screen.
Ryan Martin drowned in 2016 while trying to rescue a seven-year-old girl, inspiring a series of current documentaries.
“At first I was apprehensive because the Martin family had lost a loved one and I wasn’t going to get involved unless we had their support,” says Kudzius, who has three young children and suffers from PTSD from drowning. “However, we met with Ryan’s brother and he gave us his blessing.”
It has brought me some peace to know that I am playing a role in helping others avoid the nightmare we have encountered Steve Kudzius
Kudzius had to face his own mental demons.
“Dealing with my memories of the day Ryan died is a roller coaster ride,” he says. “It simply came to our notice then. Others I am not. I’m nervous all the time when I’m near the water and I don’t think that will ever go away.
“I was amazed to see how tragedy played out on screen, but working in the doco forced me to face some of the things I needed. It has been a healing process and it has brought some peace knowing that I am playing a role in helping others to avoid the nightmare we have encountered “.
Silent killer
Breaking currents are the number one coastal danger in Australia, contributing an average of 26 deaths each year, while 3.7 million Australian adults have been caught unintentionally in a tear.
“This is a higher number of deaths than many of the natural disasters we have in Australia,” says Jasmin Lawes, chief researcher at Surf Life Saving Australia. “Over the last five years we have seen evidence that more Australians are becoming aware of the danger of the breaking current … but research has repeatedly shown that people are not good at identifying them.”
Water dye shows how a tear works. Professor Rob Brander, also known as “Dr. Rip,” uses dye in water to show how a tear works. Video: ripcurrentsafety.com
According to SLSA research, one in three Australian adults does not know how to identify a break-in, while 56% do not trust their ability to do so. In 2020-21 alone, Surf Life Saving volunteers and lifeguards conducted more than 8,000 rescues across Australia, and while there was no breakdown of the causes, Brander says there is no doubt that most went due to tears.
The sad reality is that we are an aquatic nation full of people who cannot identify a ripJason Markland
“The sad reality is that we’re an aquatic nation full of people who can’t identify a tear,” says Markland, who has spent 30 years creating real content for National Geographic and Discovery channels.
“When I found out about Ryan’s death, I was shocked that I didn’t know how to spot a tear and that I’d be hooked like hell if I got caught in one. I wanted to change the conversation around the rips and that’s why he went “It’s the most important documentary I’ve ever made. I knew it would save lives.”
Combining science with stories of survival and tragedy, Rip Current Heroes aired on National Geographic Australia, and was later screened by Qantas and Jetstar on domestic and international flights. Rip’s current study guides were also made available to all schools in Australia free of charge.
Weekend application
Markland looked further afield, looking to produce a US version. Kudzius and his wife Erin, whose company Pinnacle Scientific Australia supplies equipment to hospitals and laboratories, again responded to the call to arms.
“They started to see that we could have a significant impact because there are so few current security resources,” Markland says.
After helping fund a short documentary for Curiosity Stream in the U.S., the couple told Markland they would fund a feature-length version.
“Steve looks like a quiet guy, but he’s a very dynamic entrepreneur,” says Markland. “He and Erin are the kind of people who say, ‘Shoot the moon, don’t do anything small. Make it as big as you can imagine. ‘
Breaks are not a hangover or a tide, says Professor Robert Brander, and can occur in all surfing conditions.
Go globalizing
The resulting documentary, Rip Current Rescue United States, premiered on the largest public broadcaster in the United States, PBS, in May, showing scenes from the Great Lakes to the beaches of Florida and California while examining current security in a nation that records up to 100,000 rescues each year.
The Kudzius also funded the creation of a website and now support the production of Rip Current Rescue International, which sees Markland working with beach safety authorities in Mexico, South Africa, Costa Rica, France, the United States. US, Brazil, Philippines and UK to bring the current security message to the global stage.
All of this brings comfort to the family whose loved one’s death has inspired the journey.
“Nothing can get Ry back and that’s heartbreaking, but knowing that what he did hasn’t been forgotten is very important to us,” says Josh Martin, whose brother’s heroism will take a prominent place in Rip Current Rescue International.
“It’s great to hear that the project is becoming more global. I’ve also kept in touch with Steve and hearing that he still spends time and money helping to save people is amazing. “
And what about the now teenage girl who owes her life to her brother?
“Rihanna’s family has kept in touch,” Martin says, apologizing for her tears. “I’m sorry if I’m excited, but they come over every year and send us pictures of her, and seeing her much bigger reinforces what Ry did and proves they’ve never forgotten him.”