An Australian lifesaver who volunteered to help asylum seekers crossing the Aegean Sea to reach the Greek island of Lesbos says he will never forget the harrowing experience.

Key points: Simon Lewis returns from rescuing asylum seekers crossing the Aegean Sea

Simon Lewis returns from rescuing asylum seekers crossing the Aegean Sea Says he saved more than 500 people but also had to watch 31 others drown in international waters

Says he saved more than 500 people but also had to watch 31 others drown in international waters Rights lawyer Julian Burnside says Australia's attitude to refugees is shameful

The 10-kilometre passage from Turkey to Lesbos can be extremely perilous, but it is the landing place of thousands of Syrians seeking refuge in Europe.

St Kilda Surf Lifesaving Club's captain Simon Lewis went to Greece as part of a joint venture between the Greek Lifeguards and the International Surf Lifesaving Association.

He said his team alone helped save 517 people in 10 days, and said the emotion in the eyes of the people he helped was "electric".

One incident that stood out for him was the look of relief on a young man's face when he and his team raced towards his boat.

"He got stuck with being the driver, and had never driven a boat before, let alone been on water," Mr Lewis said.

"I remember coming around the boat, and I locked eyes on him, and he locked eyes on me, and all the colour came back on his face, the look of relief."

Mr Lewis said he was also saddened by the experience after 31 asylum seekers drowned during his 10 days on patrol.

He said those who drowned were in Turkish waters.

Mr Lewis said his team alone helped save 517 people in 10 days ( Supplied by Simon Lewis )

Of those people he helped rescue, he said one case that stuck in his mind was of a mother trying to throw her child five metres to what she considered safety.

"We realised what she was about to do, you know, throw us the baby and so we had to pull away from her and put some distance between us. Just seeing her face, that heartbreak," he said.

He said there were about 2,000 refugees who travelled to the area in the time he was there.

"These boats are the dodgiest," he said.

"[They are] kind of built like an inflatable boat, with a fake Chinese engine, they all have fake life jackets on and its on the lowest budget thing that you wouldn't even put your family in.

"These people make the journey because they think it's better than being on land, and that says everything to you [about] their situation, to try to get to freedom, because it's a better option than anywhere else."

As well as lending a hand, Mr Lewis ran a crowd-funding campaign that's raised more than $22,000, for a new rescue jet ski for the Greek lifeguards.

Australia's attitude to refugees 'shameful'

Mr Lewis said he had to stand by helpless as 31 refugees drowned on the Turkish side. ( Supplied by Simon Lewis )

International human rights lawyer Julian Burnside said Mr Lewis' story was especially important on the eve of Australia Day.

He said Australia's attitude to boat people in the last few years had been a matter of international shame.

"Because on Australia Day I think people should ask who are we? What are we as a country?" Mr Burnside said.

Mr Burnside said lifesaving was at the heart of what it is to be Australian.

Simon Lewis says he will never forget his ten days helping asylum seekers of the Greek coast. ( Facebook )

"There could be few better instances of lifesaving than saving the lives of desperate refugees trying to get themselves to safety," he said.

"One way all Australians can help save the lives of people like that is by adopting a more enlightened approach to boat people generally."

He said Mr Lewis' experience showed helping people can actually enrich your own life.

"Australia agreed to resettle 12,000 Syrian refugees, but it sounds like the numbers they're seeing in Lesbos can be 12,000 trying to land there in a month?" Mr Burnside said.

"Most Australians, I think, would respond the way Simon Lewis did if they saw a mother holding out her baby to save it from the ocean, but they failed to recognise that boat people don't risk their lives out of fun.

"They do it because they are trying to escape a worse fate and we can actually help all of them by being prepared to receive and treat decently those who actually get here."