'Cheeky' man who died saving drowning girl at Fingal Headland a loss to everyone: brother

The Queensland man who died rescuing a drowning girl on Friday has been remembered as a "cheeky" bloke who gave his last ounce of "superhuman" strength to save another life.

Ryan Martin was raised in the surf, tackling big swell as a trained nipper – the very skills that kicked into gear when he held a seven-year-old girl out of the water at Fingal Headland while he was battered against sharp rocks.

The 30-year-old Burleigh Heads man did not survive the rescue, his body giving out soon after he handed the distressed girl to surf lifesavers on Friday afternoon.

Brother Josh Martin told the Gold Coast Bulletin his heroic brother was his "best mate" and he was not surprised he sacrificed his life for someone else.

“He was as good as they make them,” the 34-year-old said. “He was cheeky as well but he got away with it because everyone loved him.

“He would always go out of his way to help anyone who needed it so it didn’t surprise me that he just threw himself into the water like that. It was just standard Ryan.”

The 34-year-old Gold Coast Suns events manager said he lost his only brother but he was just one of dozens of friends and family who had "lost something really special".

Josh said he walked out to the spot that claimed Ryan's life and was astounded by the strength and endurance that would have possessed the man as he fought against the sea and death to hold the little girl out of the swell.

“It would have been an incredible feat," he said.

“He actually managed to pass the girl over to the rescuers at the end of it all. To do all that while carrying someone is superhuman.”

Josh's wife Sarah Martin was heartbroken about the loss of the man she considered her brother, having lost her own some years ago.

She was also sad for her children who have lost “the best uncle you could ever hope to have”.

News break – March 29