Jarryd save a drowning women
http://www.news.com.au/national/jar...packer-from-surf/story-e6frfkvr-1226027096610
Jarryd Hayne saves female backpacker from surf
NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne risked his life to save an Irish backpacker yesterday, rescuing the drowning girl from wild surf at Coogee Beach.
Hayne and his father, former South Sydney player Manoa Thompson, were swept up to 200m from shore as they swam to the aid of the girl, who was caught in a rip and yelling: "I can't do this any more."
Last night, Thompson told The Daily Telegraph: "Put it this way, if Jarryd hadn't pulled her up, she was gone." He said he had no doubt his son - already a hero to thousands of Eels fans - had saved the girl's life, The Daily Telegraph (
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...m-surf/story-e6freuzi-1226027010306#)reported.
"There would have been a drowning at Coogee and we would have lost a backpacker," Thompson said.
"We were both holding her and telling her to stay calm. It was traumatic and shocking."
The woman was swimming in a powerful 3m swell outside the flags at north Coogee when she got into trouble about 1pm.
"I've never been caught in a rip like that before - and the woman couldn't swim," Hayne said.
"The rip actually swept Dad 10m out past me and I thought 'sh*t, the lifeguards are at the other end [of the beach]'.
"We actually got taken out another 50m. I was just telling her to relax but we were getting dragged further and further out. We kept her head above water and kept telling her not to panic."
Local lifesavers took over after Hayne and Thompson dragged the woman from the swell and ensured she was safe.
The shaken tourist later thanked the pair, who left the beach before she could give them her name.
NRL chief David Gallop praised Hayne, saying: "It was an outstanding effort and one the game can be proud of."
The rescue came after a university student drowned when he ditched his board after a surf and headed back in for a swim. The 20-year-old became caught in a rip off Fairy Meadow beach, near Wollongong, about 8.15am.
Illawarra Surf Life Saving president Bill Seay said: "When conditions are [rough], I plead with all to stay out of the water until things calm down."
clarency
