Fingal hero’s family gives blessing for tragic death to feature in world-first rip survival documentary

RYAN Martin died a hero at Fingal last year. Now his family has given its blessing for the tragedy to be recreated on film in a bid to save lives.

Josh Martin during his emotional meeting with Rihanna Milabo, the seven-year-old saved from a rip by his brother Ryan in a dramatic rescue that claimed his life. Photo: John Gass

JOSH Martin will head to work today knowing a film crew is recreating his brother’s tragic death at Fingal – and his only regret is he can’t be there to lend a hand.

“If I could be, I would,” Josh said of the intricately planned shoot for a world-first documentary on rip science and survival that will capture the heroic tale of Burleigh’s Ryan Martin, the 30-year-old who drowned a year ago while saving the life of a seven-year-old girl.

RYAN MARTIN’S FAMILY MEET THE LITTLE GIRL HE DIED SAVING

“Our family is incredibly devastated but support this project because it’s what Ryan would want. He’d want to save lives and even if it just saves one, it will have been worth it.

“I’m sure it would be hard (to watch the filming) and I don’t know if I’d get through it all, but it’s nothing compared to what Ryan did.”

Ryan Martin, right, with brother Josh: “As far as brothers go, you couldn’t get a better one.”

Ryan was one of half a dozen people who rushed to the aid of a Toowoomba family on Good Friday last year when their young daughter was swept out to sea by a rip on an unpatrolled beach near Fingal headland.

In chaotic scenes lasting up to 30 minutes, his body took a battering as he and others shielded Rihanna Milabo from jagged rocks and 2m waves.

While the girl and his fellow rescuers survived, including one who had to be resuscitated, Ryan’s refusal to leave her side ultimately cost him his life.

Now Kirra filmmaker Jason Markland has received the blessing of the Martin family to recreate the incident for Rip Safety GC, his ambitious grassroots project to produce the world’s first documentary on rip science and survival and distribute it free to every Gold Coast resident, school and library.

“A big reason we’re supportive of the project is it will be used as an educational tool,” Josh said.

“Surf Life Saving’s message is to swim between the flags but more education is clearly needed around spotting rips … rip safety is so important for this city and Ryan’s story highlights the consequences if people get into trouble.”

Ryan Martin, right, with brother Josh and twin nephews Lennox and Kingston.

THE HEROES

Since approaching him late last year with a view to recreating the day that haunts his family, Markland said Josh had made one thing clear.

“He told me it’s really important viewers know there were so many other people who played a role in saving Rihanna’s life,” he said.

“A lot of people were pulled into the situation because they instinctively wanted to help … even though the event had such a tragic outcome, it was a real show of human spirit.”

That said, Markland is well aware only one person lost his life that day.

“It’s an honour to tell Ryan’s story and for his family to trust me to do the right thing by them and his memory,” he said.

“There was a time during the rescue he could have got back to shore but he stayed.

“He had choices but every time he put someone else before himself. That tells you a lot about his character and I will absolutely capture that in the story.”

Filmmaker Jason Markland is producing a documentary that focuses on rip current science and survival. Photo: Regi Varghese

This weekend’s shoot is no small feat.

About 20 local cast and crew will be involved. A drone will capture images from the air and safety support will be on the water. Filming will take place away from the headland to avoid unnecessary danger.

Sensitivity will also be paramount.

“There will be no overdramatising, nothing to offend Josh and his family,” Markland said.

“I just want to show what happened, highlight the sacrifice Ryan made and how we can stop things like this happening in the future.”

THE HEARTACHE

“As far as brothers go, you couldn’t get a better one,” Josh said of his only sibling.

“We grew up around the beach (at Currumbin) and did nippers so we were aware of rips. That’s why Ryan would have been the first in the water. He saw her being sucked out and knew what was happening.

“It was difficult to piece together everything that happened but hearing from people who were in the water with Ryan was mind-blowing. He worked so hard to save that little girl’s life.”

In the wake of his brother’s death, Josh had an emotional meeting at Fingal with Rihanna, her parents and some of the men who helped save her life.

Ryan Martin, who died last year while saving a girl caught in a rip.

Then, last month on the anniversary of the tragedy, he received a phone call that still brings him to tears.

“The family rang to say they hadn’t forgotten Ryan, that they talk to Rihanna about him and still have his photo (on display),” an emotional Josh said.

“They said they know Rihanna is only here because of Ryan. It was nice to get that call.”

As you can guess, the word ‘blame’ is not in his family’s vocabulary.

“To do that would diminish what Ryan did,” Josh said.

“For whatever reason, that little girl was in trouble and he decided to save her life. Ultimately he sacrificed his life so she could live and we support his decision.

“They’ve thanked us for what Ryan did. That’s all you can hope for and I find it nice that Rihanna will grow up knowing he was her guardian angel.”

To support the project, visit www.ripsafetygc.com

Rihanna Milabo with several of the men who helped save her life - Raymond Williams, Levi Wiringi, Luke Robinson and Steve Kuzius. Photo: John Gass

TIMELINE OF A TRAGEDY

Based on interviews with key players, Jason Markland explains how the incident unfolded:

Rihanna was in the water and some large waves started to break, a rip formed and she got pulled out quite quickly.

Her mother responded almost straight away and got in trouble herself. That’s when Raymond (Williams) responded. He got her out but it was pretty tight.

Ryan Martin was relaxing up the beach with his girlfriend and he pretty much headed straight to the young girl. Luke (Robinson) also jumped off the rocks and swam across to help.

Now you’ve got this incredible situation where two men are sharing the load of holding Rihanna as they get taken further out and towards the headland. She would have been beside herself. What those two men did to share the load between them was extraordinary.

Then Levi (Wiringi) paddled out on a board but the group was getting smashed by waves. They were on and off the board and taking on a lot of water.

Someone ran over the hill to tell the surf club and they contacted club member Steve Kudzius, who would play an absolutely vital role in the rescue. He got a boat in the water but by the time it got around the headland, a man trying to pull the group in had been swept off the rocks and was now struggling.

He was thrown a rescue tube and Steve determined pretty quickly that Luke and Rihanna were in pretty bad shape. He got them in the boat and back to shore where Luke was revived.

Steve then returned to pick up the other man and retrieve Ryan’s body.