The man was seen floating face down in the ocean pool at Mona Vale after swimming laps on Saturday morning and was dragged from the water by a female bystander.
Surf patrol life guards aged between 16 and 18, accompanied by an older team leader, began resuscitation at the poolside and a defibrillator was used to restart his heart.
The swimmer was moved to Mona Vale hospital and put into a medically induced coma.
Mr Faddy said doctors believe he will make a full recovery.
“This was a patrol made up largely of teenage boys and girls,” Mr Faddy said in a statement.
“The way they responded to the emergency was a credit to them as lifesavers and a reflection of the quality of their training.
“They can certainly go home today knowing that they saved a life.”
