Good Samaritan dies trying to save family from drowning at notorious beach
THE grieving girlfriend of a Good Samaritan Ryan Martin — who died while trying to rescue a girl struggling in huge surf — has paid tribute to a “true hero”.
NSW
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THE grieving girlfriend of a man who died while trying to rescue a girl struggling in huge surf has paid tribute to a “true hero”.
Devastated Zoe Bell could only stand by as her boyfriend Ryan Martin and another man plunged into the water at Fingal Head, near Nelson Bay, about 3.30pm yesterday afternoon when a 10-year-old girl was swept out to sea while playing on the beach with her family.
Ms Bell was among friends who took to social media to pay tribute to 30-year-old Mr Martin, saying: “I love you always. Rest in peace honey. I’m broken.”
In dramatic scenes at Fingal Head, Mr Martin and the other rescuer, a 21-year-old man, managed to get the unconscious girl on to a surfboard as lifesavers made their way out in a lifeboat, before both men got into trouble themselves and were pulled unconscious from the water.
She was carried safely to shore but moments later Mr Martin and a 21-year-old man began to struggle against the rough current.
The girl and the other rescuer were resuscitated on the beach by lifeguards. But Mr Martin could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The girl, who is believed to be a tourist, was playing in the shallows before being pulled out to deeper water.
Two others were taken to hospital for treatment before being released.
Among the grieving friends who paid tribute to Mr Martin on Facebook was Ryan Evers, who described Mr Martin as his “best friend” who was “the most nicest generous person in the world”.
“I wish I got to hang out with you more legend you were a good man and sadly your gone and in a better place now,” he wrote.
“Going to miss you, bro, and the good times we had.
“My heart goes out to all of the Martin family.”
Another friend, Brie Shinn, wrote: “Words can’t even express how sad we are for the loss of this legend.”
Fingal Surf Life Saving Club president Steven Kudzius, 31, who was at the beach with his partner and son when the incident unfolded, heard the beachgoers’ yells for help.
He grabbed a crewmate and they launched the club’s rubber ducky rescue boat and sped out to where the group was, about 100m offshore.
Mr Martin was floating just beneath the surface with no signs of life.
Mr Kudzius managed to get the girl in the boat but was then faced with the horrifying decision of who to save next and said he was “shattered” to leave Mr Martin behind.
“I will go home and reel from this for months,” Mr Kudzius said.
“You have to rescue who you can — you just have to go.
“The little girl and the woman were falling in and out of consciousness as we took them to the beach.”
Chief Inspector Mick Dempsey said surf lifesavers pulled the pair from the water but were unable to revive Mr Martin, from Palm Beach in Queensland.
The 21-year-old man and young girl were both taken to Tweed Heads hospital and have since been released.
Chief Insp Dempsey said while he urged people to only swim at patrolled beaches, there was no way to stop a person risking their lives trying to assist a child.
He said Mr Martin did not know the girl, he just saw her in trouble and went to help.
“I just think it’s very heroic of somebody to put themselves in danger to assist other people,” Chief Insp Dempsey said.
“To tell the truth he probably didn’t even think of it, he just acted on instinct, but it’s certainly heroic to put yourself in danger to save somebody else.”
Chief Insp Dempsey said he had spoken to Mr Martin’s mother who was “quite distraught”.
Witnesses recall hearing Ms Bell’s screams of distress when she saw her partner’s unconscious body floating in the water.
Mr Kudzius, a Fingal local, said this was not the first fatal rescue of a Good Samaritan he had seen on the beach this season.
He is still recovering after trying to revive Aggie Auelua, 26, who drowned after diving to rescue nine-year-old boy Matt Hennessy, who was swept off the rocky headland in October.
“I feel pretty shit to be honest,” he said.
“I cannot believe it. It is such a beautiful day — it never happens when you expect it.
“The ocean is a nasty little master — she takes as fast as she gives.”
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