'Hero' dad drowns while saving 14yo daughter

“He told her, ‘you need to let go — Miley, let go of my hand'. He managed to get her out and then disappeared.”

A father-of-three has been remembered as a “hero” after he lost his life while saving his 14-year-old daughter from a rip in Western Australia.

Warren “Wazza” Laing was swimming with family at Albany on January 14 when he spotted his 14-year-old daughter Miley-Jayde in trouble.

7News reports Warren, whose family lives about 40 minutes from Albany, got his daughter into a position where she could safely get to shore before telling her to “let go of my hand”.

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Tragically, Warren was unable to save his own life.

“He told her, ‘you need to let go — Miley, let go of my hand’,” his sister-in-law Alisia Coyne told 7News

“He managed to get her out and then disappeared.”

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Warren Laing with his three children. Picture: GoFundMe

"He died a hero"

Ms Coyne said one of two “angels” walking by at the time pulled his body onto the beach and began CPR while the other shielded his children from the sight.

Paramedics took Warren to Albany Hospital, but he could not be revived.

“Wazza passed away tragically on that day saving his beautiful daughter,” Ms Coyne said.

“He died a hero and he will always be remembered as so.”

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Warren is being remembered as a "hero" after his tragic drowning. Picture: 7News

"He was a character our Wazza"

7News reports Warren’s family and friends are still stunned that he died by drowning given he was a very strong swimmer who frequented the beach and local pools often.

The family is now waiting for test results to determine whether he had an underlying health issue that impacted his ability to exit the water safely.

“Wazza loved the water and if you didn’t find him at the local pool you found him down the beach with the kids, nieces and nephews included,” Ms Coyne said.

“Helping out with his niece and nephew, grandparents, parents and anyone he could, he brought happiness and laughter to everyone who knew him or met him,” Ms Coyne said.

“He was a character our Wazza.”

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"His children need support"

Ms Coyne has launched a GoFundMe to help cover Warren’s funeral costs and to support his family over the coming months.

He tragically leaves behind his partner of 18 years, Rennae, and his three children Amber, 24, Zack, 17, and Miley-Jayde, 14.

“Wazza was the provider for his family and now with him gone, Rennae and the children need support,” Ms Coyne said.

“If you can donate any amount big or small it would be truly appreciated so we can ensure our hero is given a send-off as equal to the man that he was when he was alive.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to family and friends that have already shared their condolences.”

Originally published as 'Hero' dad drowns while saving 14yo daughter