Bondi Beach closed down last month and the jobs of their world-renowned lifeguards are in limbo amid the coronavirus pandemic.
And while the elite group of rescuers saved countless lives, out of the water some of their darkest moments have come to light.
Head lifeguard Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkin, 51, was caught up in a drink driving scandal in 2016, Woman’s Day reported.
Sand and scandal: Bondi Rescue’s secrets exposed as the jobs of the elite lifeguards are in limbo after the iconic beach is forced to close down amid the coronavirus pandemic. Head lifeguard Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkin, 51, was caught up in a drink driving scandal in 2016
The head lifeguard was pulled over by police after he was seen driving erratically in Bondi on January 4 after leaving restaurant Chapter One, which he co-owns.
He was breath tested and was three times over the legal limit and arrested.
Hoppo later plead guilty to high-range drink driving and lost his licence for 12 months. He blamed the breakdown of his marriage with Stacey Woods.
He has since moved on with publicist Karen Griffin after proposing in Cuba last year.
Heartbreak: Hoppo later plead guilty to high-range drink driving and lost his licence for 12 months. He blamed the breakdown of his marriage with Stacey Woods (right)
New flame: He has since moved on with publicist Karen Griffin (left) after proposing in Cuba last year
Set to face court: Jesse Polock, 29, who quit the show last year, was allegedly found with ketamine and cocaine during a drug bust in Maroubra in December, the publication reported
Jesse Polock, 29, who quit the show last year, was allegedly found with ketamine and cocaine during a drug bust in Maroubra in December, Woman’s Day reported.
The father-of-one, who is a member of the Bra Boys surf gang, was charged with one count of supplying prohibited drugs and two counts of possession.
Jesse not pleaded guilty to the charge of supplying and is yet to enter a plea for the possession charges. He will face court in May.
His lawyer Chayana Miers told the publication that he quit his job as a lifeguard on the show because of the ‘numerous suicides and difficult experiences he was exposed to in the role’.
Struggles: Lifeguard Nicola Atherton also spoke about her struggles with an addiction to sleeping pills and alcohol before joining the reality show in 2014. She turned to pills and alcohol after breaking up with her first long-term partner after two years of dating
Lifeguard Nicola Atherton also spoke about her struggles with an addiction to sleeping pills and alcohol before joining the reality show in 2014.
In 2016, she told Woman’s Day that she turned to pills and alcohol after breaking up with her first long-term partner after two years of dating.
A wild night in Bali led to her being admitted to hospital after she stopped breathing after mixing pills and alcohol.
She told the magazine at the time it was the wake-up call she needed and when she returned to Australia she began seeking help from a psychologist.
Closed: It comes after Bondi Beach was forced to close down amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins told The Daily Telegraph last month: ‘We’ve got no idea when we can reopen, it’s weird times’
It comes after Bondi Beach was forced to close down amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins told The Daily Telegraph last month: ‘We’ve got no idea when we can reopen, it’s weird times.
‘I’ve never seen that before where the beach has been fenced off to stop people going on to the beach,’ he said.
As of Tuesday evening, there are 5,906 cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 48 deaths.
Closed for now: ‘I’ve never seen that before where the beach has been fenced off to stop people going on to the beach,’ he said (Bondi Beach pictured on April 2)
Update: As of Tuesday evening, there are 5,906 cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 48 deaths