Wedding guest Hugh Dougherty rescues struggling swimmers during the ceremony

A Gold Coast couple’s nuptials quickly turned into a dramatic ocean rescue, with one of the wedding guests stripping off to dive into the water to save four struggling swimmers.

Jamie Corkill and Madeleine Irving’s wedding day turned into an occasion they’ll never forget - and not just because it was a celebration of their love.

The Gold Coast couple’s nuptials quickly turned into a dramatic ocean rescue, with one of the wedding guests - a former Ironman - stripping off to dive into the water to save four struggling swimmers.

Former elite ironman competitor Hugh Dougherty, 40, startled the wedding party when he took off his shirt and shoes the moment the celebrant invited the newlyweds to seal their union with a kiss. He could see the four tourists were stuck in a well-known, treacherous rip at Main Beach in Yamba, northern NSW.

Hugh Dougherty during his competition days. Picture: Delly Carr

Hugh Dougherty after saving struggling swimmers.

He ran into the surf and was first to reach the stricken swimmers, saving one who had already disappeared beneath the waves by grabbing her hair and pulling her to the surface.

His efforts, and those of others - including one other wedding guest, Cameron Hattley from the Gold Coast - who went to their aid, prevented a certain tragedy.

All the swimmers survived the ordeal, although one was taken to hospital after collapsing back on shore.

Dougherty said he had been keeping on eye on the swimmers during the ceremony but didn’t want to interrupt the proceedings.

“I was a bit late for the wedding so I couldn’t be seen leaving it early too,” the champion lifesaver, whose sister-in-law Meg was the marriage celebrant, said.

Jamie Corkill and Madeleine Irving got a shock on their wedding day. Picture: The Loved Ones.

“She could see I was distracted and thought I was more interested in checking out the waves than listening to her.”

The newlyweds had no idea about the drama unfolding behind them at Main Beach in Yamba, northern NSW, on their November 11 wedding day. There were no lifeguards on the beach at the time.

“Hugh was halfway to the water by the time we turned around to see what was going on,” Jamie, 38, a golf professional at the Yamba Golf Club, said.

“We knew immediately what was going on and everybody’s heart was in their mouth. The situation was incredibly real.

“They (the swimmers) were gone for all money.”

Hugh Dougherty became a hero in an unusual setting.

Jamie and Madeleine, who have been together for 15 years and have two children aged 3 and 4, had expected the day would be a memorable one - just not quite as memorable as it turned out to be.

“Mads and I didn’t mind. Those heroes saved not only people’s lives but our day as well. A few seconds later and it would have been the worst of days,’’ he said.

“Great people around us got the festivities back on track real quick and we had an epic night.”

Dougherty lives in Yamba with wife Emma Dougherty and their four daughters, where he runs a plumbing business.

His family is heavily involved in the surf life-saving movement - Hugh’s brother Joe is the president of the Yamba SLSC, his father Jim is the director of surf sports at the club and his mum Cathy is the registrar.

Hugh hasn’t competed at the elite level for about eight years but obviously hasn’t forgotten his rescue skills.

“It’s lucky I didn’t have to swim very far though!” he said.