Mystery surf hero who rescued Nate Searle revealed as 24-year-old French Canadian Victor Lussier-choquette
THE 24-year-old French Canadian who rescued fellow surfer Nate Searle on Tuesday afternoon says he is thankful he was there to pull the 18-year-old out of the water.
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THE 24-year-old French Canadian who rescued fellow surfer Nate Searle on Tuesday afternoon says he is thankful he was there to pull the 18-year-old out of the water.
“If I wasn’t there he could have died man,” Victor Lussier-choquette said.
Nate, the son of Titans founder Michael Searle, was saved by Mr Lussier-choquette when he was found unconscious in the water at the Currumbin Alley on Tuesday.
He was taken to hospital where his lungs were drained for fluid and is expected to be released in the coming days.
Nate was “ripping” as he came towards him on a wave at the Currumbin Alley on Tuesday, Mr Lussier-choquette said.
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“He was flying on this wave but it was that time in the afternoon that’s it’s a bit hard to see,” He said.
“I was paddling back out and I wasn’t sure if he saw me so I rolled my board over out of the way of his.
“He turned out of the way as I went under the wave.”
The 24-year-old said when he turned around he saw Nate’s board but could not see him.
“I just paddled as quick as I could,” the chef from Kurrawa Surf Club said.
“When I got there I grabbed his board, found his leg rope and pulled him up.”
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He said Nate was unconscious as he wrestled his limp body onto his board.
“I just tried to keep him on the board but it was difficult because waves kept coming and hitting us,” he said.
“I kept heading into the shore with him on the board.
“I got tangled with my board so I ditched it.
“We kept going and then he started to move and come to.
“He said ‘I’m all good’,” but he wasn’t.
“He was spewing up blood and water while we were going in.
“That’s when I knew I had to go faster.”
He said another man helped them and when they got to shore at Palm Beach he ran to the groyne at Currumbin Creek, paddled across and got a lifeguard.
“I just hope he is alright,” he said.
“I guess I did save his life because if he was in the water for much longer he would have drowned.
“But anyone would have done it, I didn’t even think about it you just do it.”