Hayne the Hero

[Coxy]

http://www.news.com.au/national/jarryd- ... 6027157890

Credit where it's due.

NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne risked his life to save an Irish backpacker yesterday, rescuing the drowning girl from wild surf at Sydney's Coogee Beach.

Hayne and his father, former South Sydney player Manoa Thompson, were swept up to 200m from shore as they swam to the aid of the girl, who was caught in a rip and yelling: "I can't do this any more."

Last night, Thompson told The Daily Telegraph: "Put it this way, if Jarryd hadn't pulled her up, she was gone." He said he had no doubt his son - already a hero to thousands of Eels fans - had saved the girl's life.

"There would have been a drowning at Coogee and we would have lost a backpacker," Thompson said.

"We were both holding her and telling her to stay calm. It was traumatic and shocking."

The woman was swimming in a powerful 3m swell outside the flags at north Coogee when she got into trouble about 1pm.

"I've never been caught in a rip like that before - and the woman couldn't swim," Hayne said.

"The rip actually swept Dad 10m out past me and I thought 'Shit, the lifeguards are at the other end [of the beach]'.

"We actually got taken out another 50m. I was just telling her to relax but we were getting dragged further and further out. We kept her head above water and kept telling her not to panic."

Local lifesavers took over after Hayne and Thompson dragged the woman from the swell and ensured she was safe.

The shaken tourist later thanked the pair, who left the beach before she could give them her name.

NRL chief David Gallop praised Hayne, saying: "It was an outstanding effort and one the game can be proud of."

The rescue came after a university student drowned when he ditched his board after a surf and headed back in for a swim. The 20-year-old became caught in a rip off Fairy Meadow beach, near Wollongong, about 8.15am.

Illawarra Surf Life Saving president Bill Seay said: "When conditions are [rough], I plead with all to stay out of the water until things calm down."

Well done Jarryd and Manoa.

Only issue I have with it is this line from Gallop "It was an outstanding effort and one the game can be proud of."

No issue with him specifically holding that view, because he conversely says "it's something the game should be ashamed of" when the players misbehave. He's consistent with that message.

However, when bad things happen, many people try to be apologists for it by saying "regular people drink drive/fight every day and it doesn't make the news". I expect those same people will respond to this item with "who cares? People rescue people in the surf every day and it doesn't make the news".

Me? I'm just glad there's been a good news story in league to counter the betting scandals, assaults, binge drinking and general retardation of too many players.

 

[Porthoz]

+1000

Can't believe I would think something nice about Hayne. [icon_ee

 

[mrslong]

Great work Jarryd icon_thumbs_u . You're a good egg, no matter what the folks here at BHQ think.

Now may you perform many more heroic deeds on the footy field this weekend. [icon_shady

 

[Nashy]

Good on him.

Eels fans will be happy. This is probably the ego boost he needed.

 

[Aeetee]

Set up... Done by the same people that organized the Roar grandstand finish.

 

[Bucking Beads]

He should be focusing on football, what was he doing saving people.?

 

[Charmamba]

The Hayne Boat.... The Hayne Float....

Nope don't sound right.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Douche on the field, but well done off it, nice to have a league star in the news off the field for the right reasons.

 

[Kimlo]

who cares? People rescue people in the surf every day and it doesn't make the news"

 

[Nashy]

Nice catch spwn.

 

[Kimlo]

Nice catch spwn.

[icon_lol1. Thanks.