Ari Greig hailed a hero after saving Bailey Ohlin at Maroochydore

A Sunshine Coast dad has relived the moment he saw his son facedown in the water at a surf lifesaving competition, as another boy is being hailed a hero for his actions.

Bailey Ohlin (left) was knocked unconscious in the surf at Maroochydore during a Surf Life Saving event, and Ari Greig (right) has been hailed a hero for potentially saving his friend's life.

A Sunshine Coast dad has relived the moment he saw his 12-year-old son face down in the water at a Surf Lifesaving competition, as the boy’s fellow competitor is hailed a hero for potentially saving his life.

Dad Matt Ohlin was watching his 12-year-old son Bailey compete in the Maroochydore Junior Rebel Surf Lifesaving Carnival on November 5, when he noticed a young board paddler, who was competing nearby, mistakenly in the area Bailey and the other boys were competing as she tried to paddle out to sea.

Bailey, who Mr Ohlin said was a swimming state medallist, was bodysurfing to shore on a wave approximately 50m from the beach, when he collided with the board head-on.

Mr Ohlin said his son remained facedown in the water for 10-15 seconds before anyone got to him.

Mr Ohlin said he started rushing to the water’s edge when he saw his son was not getting up.

Bailey Ohlin, 12, was rescued from the surf at Maroochydore by a fellow competitor after being knocked out by a rogue board. Photo: Contributed

“(I was thinking) I just had to get to him as fast as I could,” he said.

But help came in the form of fellow competitor Ari Greig, 12, who immediately rushed to his friend’s side and kept him above water until more help arrived.

Once Bailey was in safe hands, Ari finished his race.

Bailey was then taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital as a precaution after suffering a concussion.

Mr Ohlin said his son had no memory of what happened.

Meanwhile, Ari has been hailed a hero for his efforts, which Mr Ohlin said he was grateful for.

Ari Greig, 12, saved fellow Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Nipper Bailey Ohlin after he was knocked unconscious in the water by a rogue wave.

Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club head coach and Ari’s father Nathan Greig agreed.

Mr Greig was 100m away on the beach when Bailey was struck, and said he kept his eyes on him and Ari throughout the ordeal.

“You train them to do these things and that’s why they’re in the sport, to learn these skills. I just think it’s the appropriate reaction to help anyone who is in distress,” he said.

“I kind of got the boys together afterwards and said ‘if that ever happens again, you do exactly that: stop and help someone out’.”

Bailey needs to “take it easy for a little while”, Mr Ohlin said, but was otherwise recovering well.