Queensland man dies a hero after trying to rescue drowning family at Fingal Head
A Burleigh Heads man who drowned while trying to rescue a young girl in the surf at a far northern NSW beach showed incredible bravery, a police officer says.
Six people were pulled from the water after they were reportedly swept out at Fingal Head, south of Coolangatta, around 3.40pm on Friday.
Ryan Martin, 30, jumped in to save a 10-year-old girl who was reportedly in shallow water when she was pulled out to sea by a rip, however Mr Martin did not survive.
"The bravery he's shown, he's just ... put his own life at risk just to save a young child," Tweed Inspector Gary Cowan said.
Burleigh Heads man Ryan Martin has died a hero, saving the life of a drowning family caught in a rip at Fingal Head. Picture: Supplied
The man was one of two people helping the girl and members of her family, who had been swept off rocks at the beach.
It's believed four people were pulled out of the water by lifesavers and nearby surfers.
Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Club president Steven Kudzius said he was enjoying a day at the beach with his partner and three-year-old son when he heard the cries for help.
Lifesavers were able to pull the 10-year-old to safety and revive her with CPR, but heartbreakingly Ryan Martin could not be saved. Source: 7 News
He said he helped lifesavers get the girl, who was unconscious, on to a surfboard, but was "shattered" by having to leave Mr Martin behind.
“It is a huge call,” Mr Kudzius told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“I will go home and reel from this from months.
“You have to rescue who you can – you just have to go.
“The little girl and the woman were falling in and out of consciousness as we took them to the beach.”
Rescue crews attended the beach on the NSW border, south of Coolangatta. Source: 7 News
It was reported lifesavers began CPR on the rescued pair, who regained consciousness, as Mr Kudzius and another lifesaver went back out into the surf to retrieve Mr Martin.
Paramedics gave Mr Martin CPR as soon as he was pulled to the shore, as two Westpac rescue helicopters arrived, but he wasn't able to be revived.
The hero was pronounced dead at the beach while his girlfriend, Zoe Bell, watched the heartbreaking events unfold.
The reduced woman and girl were taken to Tweed Hospital and are believed to be in a stable condition.
