Bondi Rescue Star Anthony Harries Carroll Shares His Thoughts on Living Well, Moving Daily, and Loving Loudly
He’s saved thousands from the surf, starred in one of the world’s most watched TV shows, and still manages to fit in Pilates, parenting, and plenty of surfing. But for Anthony Harries Carroll, 49, a life well lived isn’t about adrenaline. It’s about presence, purpose and joy.
“I’ve been rescuing people since I was 10 years old,” Harries says, reflecting on a career that began on the shores of Clovelly and has spanned more than three decades. “I didn’t know any different but to have my feet in the sand every day.”
Raised beside the sea with a twin brother and what funnily enough started as a deep-rooted fear of the ocean, Harries learned to respect its power early. This initial fear became the fuel for his lifelong mission: to get good in the water , and to help others who weren’t.
“It was instinct. It’s in my DNA,” he says. “I was brought up to help anyone, no matter who they are.”
Our team at Bondi Beauty were lucky enough to sit down and talk with the Bondi Rescue Star, who’s outlook on his busy Bondi life is something we should all take notes from.
Joy over Happiness
Most who know Harries, know him for his enigmatic personality and contagious smile, which he always seems to carry from the screen and to the streets of Bondi. With a career that entailed dealing with very high pressure situations that have resulted in some pretty intense outcomes, Harries outlook on seeking joy in everyday life, is highly inspirational.
“Happiness is result-reliant,” he says. “You catch a wave, you’re happy. But then you want another. Joy’s different. Joy is sitting in the water and feeling the wind on your skin. Joy is being present.”
And that presence has been hard-earned. Harries has pulled people from cliffs, performed CPR on the sand, and held lives in his hands, literally. Now, as a husband of 13 years to wife Emily and father of Billy, 11 and Leo aged 9, he says the emotional weight of those moments hits deeper.
“It’s even harder when you’ve got kids,” he says. “You feel more. You carry more. But that’s why it’s so important to regulate.”
Regulators, Not Reactions
Alongside seeking the Joy in everyday life, If there’s one thing Harries wants to pass on to others it’s this: learn your regulators.
“What are you doing to balance yourself? Are you breathing? Are you moving? Are you doing something that brings you back into your body?”
A regulator simply means any activity that gets you out of your head and into the present, for many of us physical exercise is the perfect way to regulate our minds to become one with our bodies, especially today when everything is always on ‘go mode’.
For Harries, that means Pilates, surfing, running, and family time. He exercises two hours a day and has a simple motto: “Motion is lotion.” The power of physical exercise enables us to come back grounded.
“When you’re in your head, you’re dead. You’ve got to move your body to fertilise your mind.”
The Importance of Self-Care
With a life built around service, from saving lives to teaching movement and raising two boys, Harries is first to admit that looking after himself is what allows him to show up for others.
“You’ve got to take care of yourself to show up for other people,” he says. “What are you doing to balance yourself?”
One of those daily balances is his morning routine. Before the beach or his early pilates class, Harries begins every day with movement, breathwork, and brushing his teeth. With Harries explaining that even oral care is something he sees as part of the bigger picture.
He is a brand ambassador of Ordo, a minimalist UK based, oral care brand he says helps make even the small rituals feel intentional, explaining; “ You know, an electric toothbrush is the way to go. That’s my call anyway.”
Expressing Our Love For Others
Whether it’s boxing with his boys or as he describes ‘dancing outside the school gates just to embarrass them’, Harries speaks about fatherhood with the same passion he brings to the beach.
“My boys are everything,” he says. “I tell them I love them every day. When they’re walking out of uni one day, I’ll still be hugging and kissing them.”
Harries describes a big part of life is sharing the love you feel for others, and making sure those around you feel loved. In a world today which is becoming more intangibly connected, it’s important to take the time to really be present with your loved ones, with Harries saying “We don’t need more silence. We need more love.”
Being deeply passionate about emotional resilience, and especially about breaking the silence around men’s mental health, Harries has used his social media platform to share, the bravest thing men can do isn’t diving into the ocean, it’s speaking up.
“I’ve seen what happens when we don’t speak,” Harries says. “Men are taught to bottle it up. That’s what kills us,” he says. “We need regulators. We need tools. We need love.”
Harries speaks from experience, not just from working in one of the most high-pressure jobs imaginable, but from being around people in their most vulnerable moments. In a culture that often equates masculinity with toughness, Harries is vocal about redefining what it means to be strong.
Living With Intention
Now approaching 50, Harries is as active as ever, both physically and emotionally. He still teaches Pilates at both Bondi and Bronte Surfclub, surfs daily, and works closely with people one-on-one to help correct dysfunction and rediscover joy in movement.
But more than anything, he’s focused on doing what feels real, and is proof that being true to yourself and authentic and genuine to others, really makes your life feel more meaningful.
“I don’t care about being an influencer,” he says. “I care about being authentic. Say g’day to people. Be kind. You might just change their day, or their life.”
And whether it’s pulling someone from the surf or making someone smile on the street, Harries is still doing what he’s always done, making people feel seen, safe, and supported, and stresses how moving through each day with positive intention to others is really what matters.
“We all need tools. But mostly, we need each other.”
What We Can Learn from Harries
In a place as fast-paced and full-on as Bondi, Harries’ story is a reminder that balance doesn’t necessarily come from doing less, it comes from doing what matters, and shows us we all have the available time in our day to regulate ourselves. Whether it’s moving your body, taking care of your mind, or being present with the people you love, the key is making space for what keeps you grounded.
His career on the beach, both on TV and in real life is proof that even when things are busy, chaotic, or unpredictable, you can still choose to live with intention and pursue a goal of spreading joy each day. “You’ve got to move, you’ve got to breathe, you’ve got to care,” he says. “And if you can do that even just a little , you’re on the right track.” He concludes.
