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A local teenage surfer has prevented a potential tragedy at South Golden Beach by rescuing two people from a treacherous rip.
Teo Martin, a well-known member of the surf community in the Shire’s north, has suddenly found himself thrust into the limelight after the December 17 incident, which has received national media attention.
The 14-year-old was out surfing when his friends began frantically gesturing for him to come in.
‘They were waving me, and I thought they’d seen a shark or something,’ Teo told the ABC. ‘I paddled in and they told me [our friend was] drowning.’
The youth paddled out to the ailing swimmer and managed to get him back to shore with the aid of his surfboard.
A second rescue
But the rescue didn’t end there. A passerby, fellow local Sam Taylor, had dived into the surf in a bid to save the same person, but had become caught in the rip himself.
‘I reached the kid and was with him for about three or four seconds and the water just pulled us apart,’ Mr Taylor, 38, told the ABC.
‘I just felt like a ping pong ball, just back and forth in between the rip and waves breaking on my head.’
Teo paddled back out and managed to rescue Mr Taylor as well, bringing him safely back to shore.
As paramedics arrived, Teo had already returned to the water, spending the next two hours ripping it up in the surf.
Social media call out
It was only through some social media call outs over the following days that Mr Taylor and his wife managed to find the young man so they could thank him.
After eventually tracking Teo down, Mr Taylor and his wife bought him the best gift a young ripper can have – a brand new board.
‘Literally, without Teo I’d be dead – so, honestly, I don’t think I can do enough to thank him and even [his parents] for raising such a great kid with a big heart,’ Mr Taylor said.
The rescue has been held up as a salient warning for swimmers and potential rescuers alike.
Surf Life Saving NSW said the incident was a timely reminder to only swim between the red and yellow flags at patrolled locations, and to immediately call triple zero if someone is in trouble, rather than diving straight in to get them.
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