See the moment the family of Fingal beach hero Ryan Martin met the little girl he died saving from drowning
JOSH Martin yesterday broke down in tears when he finally met the little girl his brother Ryan died saving, telling her ‘I can see why he wouldn’t leave you — you’re absolutely beautiful’.
Gold Coast
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WHEN seven-year-old Rihanna Milabo burst into tears as she was hugged by Josh Martin, it signified the moment two families – strangers whose only link was a tragic death – came together.
They were at the scene of the tragedy to honour Ryan Martin, a brother, friend and stranger who gave his life on Good Friday so Rihanna could live.
Rihanna’s parents, Rickel and Shyra, had been nervous about meeting the family of the man they described as their “guardian angel”.
The Filipino family from Toowoomba had even held off phoning after the Easter tragedy, so worried were they about the reaction they might face.
But as they came together on Fingal headland yesterday morning, those fears disappeared as emotion took over.
It was Josh, displaying bravery similar to that shown by his heroic brother, who put the family’s last anxieties to rest.
Kneeling down, he hugged a sobbing Rihanna, whispering into her ear, “I can see why he wouldn’t leave you — you’re absolutely beautiful”.
Tears flowed during the solemn walk towards the cliff face, which hides the deadly Giant’s Causeway, the spot where Ryan, 30, drowned while shielding Rihanna’s body from jagged rocks and 2m waves.
“We didn’t think anyone would save us,” sobbed Shyra.
“I didn’t know how they would react, but they are a beautiful family — they just wanted to meet Rihanna.”
Shyra, 30, and Rickel, 32, had also been caught in the rip but, thanks to the heroics of half a dozen good Samaritans, were saved. Another rescuer Luke Robinson was resuscitated on Fingal beach by paramedics after being swept around the treacherous headland.
Shyra said the family had been stunned by the events of Good Friday.
“It all happened so fast,” she said.
“We were just playing in the water near the rocks and then we were swept out to sea.
“Rihanna would not be alive today without everyone who helped us.”
Two more unsung heroes emerged at the memorial — Gold Coasters Levi Wiringi and Raymond Williams.
Another man, known only as Shane, played a role in the rescue but is yet to come forward.
A teary Mr Williams walked up to Ryan’s girlfriend Zoe Bell on the headland and said: “I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry, I couldn’t save him”.
“You couldn’t have done anything more,” responded the heartbroken woman, who was standing at the same spot from where she had watched in horror as her partner drowned.
The group was greeted on the headland by a broken surfboard fixed to the ground as an interim emergency flotation device to keep swimmers safe while local and state authorities argue over who should pay for safety measures.
Pottsville painter Luke Robinson, who had taken over holding Rihanna when Ryan began to tire, said he was still haunted by his decision to leave him.
“It’s really hard, thinking back to that moment,” he said.
“I know in my heart it’s what Ryan would have wanted, but that doesn’t make it easier.
“I don’t think anyone blames them for getting swept out, but it would be good to see someone put up a sign warning people about how rough it is, so it doesn’t happen again.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
1. 4.30pm: Milabo family is swept out while swimming.
2. Ryan grabs hold of Rihanna.
3. Luke Robinson jumps in off the rocks to help Ryan who is struggling.
4. Another man, only known as Shane, swept in off the rocks trying to pull them all to shore.
5. Zoe Bell watches on in horror.
6. They are all swept north. Shane becomes separated, while trying to climb up the rocks.
7. Levi Wiringi paddles over with his surfboard.
8. Lifesavers reach Shane first and throw him a rescue tube.
9. About 5pm: Lifesavers then pull Rihanna and Luke from the Giant’s Causeway and resuscitate Luke on Fingal Beach. They return shortly to pick up Shane and retrieve Ryan’s body.
BRAVERY AWARD
THE family Ryan Martin died saving has called for their “guardian angel” to be honoured for his bravery.
Toowoomba dad Rickel Milabo, 32, said he owed his daughter’s life to Mr Martin, describing the rescuer as a selfless hero.
“We will be forever in his debt — he saved her,” he told the Bulletin yesterday while waiting to meet Ryan’s brother, Josh Martin, for the first time.
“I want him to be given a bravery award so his family can remember what he has done for us,” he said. “He is a hero, our guardian angel.”
The emotional father’s Good Friday turned to horror when he saw his seven-year-old daughter Rihanna swept around a rocky headland at Fingal.
Ryan, a Burleigh Heads accountant, was one of the first in the water and charged towards the terrified child. His body took a battering from the 2m swell for around 30 minutes but he only collapsed when the small Filipino child was passed to another rescuer.
Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Club president Steven Kudzius backed calls for Ryan to be honoured and said everyone involved in the rescue should be included.
“Ryan paid the ultimate price but the extraordinary thing is that lots of people put themselves in the same danger that day,” he said.
“He should win a bravery award and so should everyone who got in that swell to save that family.”
Fingal lifesavers Deborah Cheers, Rick Ager and Gary Bey were also involved in the rescue.
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