REDHEAD'S Daniel Collins has returned from the Life Saving World Championships in France with a monumental medal haul.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As one of 12 athletes on the under-19 Australian youth team, Collins contributed six medals to the national tally.
The 18-year-old won gold in the swim, oceanman and beach sprint events and silver in the board rescue.
In the pool, Collins stole gold in the obstacle and mannequin events.
After five days of competition, Collins stayed on to represent Redhead in the interclub championship.
He and fellow clubmate Stewart McLachlan were the only two to represent the small seaside city.
Collins won gold in the swim and ironman heats and bronze in the board rescue.
McLachlan dominated the 12.5-kilometre downwind paddleboard race by eight minutes.
However, the effort took its toll five days later as the two-time defending national champion finished sixth in the board rescue.
While McLachlan's overseas debut was bittersweet, Collins was overjoyed with his results.
It's been a big year for the teen, who only made the NSW surf lifesaving team for the first time in January.
His selection came off the back of a strong performance at the interbranch competition at Soldiers Beach, where he won the swim and ironman events and narrowly missed out on victory in the board rescue.
He followed that up in April with wins in the swim, ironman and tube race heats at the nationals in Perth, which almost certainly sealed the deal for Collins' selection in the Australian team.
"I got a phone call late one night from a club official," Collins said.
"He said, 'I'd just like to congratulate you, you're going to France to compete in the world championships' - and that was it.
"It was a bit surreal but [my family and I] were jumping for joy."
With the world championships now behind him, a new season has dawned for Collins back on home surf.
Local branch challenges are fast approaching, but Collins said this wasn't the last the Australian public had seen of him on the world stage.
"I'd like to travel the world and compete in competitions, but for now, I'm content at home in Redhead."