The tight-knit community of Bondi Surf Club is mourning the sudden loss of 54-year-old Louise Santos, a dedicated surf lifesaver, athlete and mother, who passed away unexpectedly while on a family holiday in France in September 2023.
Louise Santos leaves grieving family
Louise, who celebrated her birthday ten days before her passing, was travelling with her husband and their young son. She leaves behind her heartbroken family members as they grapple with this “unfathomable loss,” in the words of Bondi Surf Club president Brent Jackson.
“The entire club stands in profound shock, grappling with the void left by Louise’s passing,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Athlete, mentor, and community pillar
An outstanding athlete who won more than 40 medals in Australian and world lifesaving competitions, Louise was a pioneer for women in the sport. She was also passionate about training younger club members in lifesaving skills and sports techniques.
She was Bondi’s first female individual Australian Titles gold medallist in the 35-39 years Ironwoman 2005, going on to snag four consecutive Australian titles in various open team events.
She also completed the extremely challenging Coolangatta Gold Long Course several times. Women were previously not allowed to participate in this endurance event. Even at the age of 49, in 2018, she completed the course and placed second in the 35-49 age group.
Louise was an integral part of Bondi Surf Club for over 20 years. She took on roles ranging from coach to competition director and volunteered countless hours. She recently became the club’s first female life member, a testament to her unwavering commitment.
Following the news of Louise’s untimely passing, tributes poured in from social media and the Bondi community. Friends and fellow surfers have described Santos as warm, straightforward, and inspirational. On Wednesday, surfers gathered for a minute’s silence in her honour. On Friday, the Bondi Surf Club flag was lowered to half-mast.
Published 1 October 2023
