Bondi local hailed a hero after rescuing drowning swimmer
A Bondi local is being hailed a hero after diving into waters between Tamarama and Bondi Beach to rescue a drowning swimmer.
Andrew Grace said he could hear the cries of the drowning man on Sunday night and raced down to the water to rescue him.
"I live just here and heard the guy screaming out 'help, help, help!'" Grace told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The destitute man was not being washed onto the rocks but he was swallowing water when Grace said he "jumped in and grabbed him".
"We pulled him out and he was almost unconscious. He'd swallowed a lot of water and we dragged him up and put him on his side and he started coughing up some of the water," said Grace, who has some training in surf life rescue.
"We got him just to settle his breathing. After about 10 minutes we brought him up here on the steps and the ambulance came and I stayed with him to make sure he's OK.
"Fortunately this time he's OK, he survived."
Police attended the scene after Grace's rescue, but the local has downplayed his heroic efforts, saying he simply knew the area and surf conditions and hoped someone would do the same for him if the positions were revered.
"It's just something that if I was in the same situation I guess I'd like to think that there was someone who would do that for me."
Morning news break – August 17
