Horrifying footage has emerged of a surfer being overwhelmed by huge waves on a popular beach in wild weather before one of Bondi Rescue’s stars comes to his aid.
In a video posted by Bill Morris on social media this week, the surfer was seen in the water at Tamarama Beach in Sydney’s east, battling the wild surf near the rocks.
The footage shows the force of the water pushing the man to the edge of two giant vertical rocks known as “The Twins.”
In the footage posted on Instagram, the man can be seen struggling to stay above the water and escape danger
The footage then shows the man being hit by large waves as he struggles to stay above the water and escape danger.
Moments earlier, Bondi Rescue lifeguard Luke Faddy, who saw the man struggling in the whitewater, is seen calling another passer-by to inquire about the surfer’s condition.
He bravely plunges into the water and begins swimming towards the surfer with nothing but his fins and a rescue tube over his shoulder.
The person filming can be heard telling Mr Faddy: “He’s fine” as the lifeguard continues to swim towards the surfer.
The surfer is later seen riding his surfboard over milder waves as he makes his way back to shore to safety near Bronte Beach.
Mr. Faddy also returned safely to shore.
Mr Morris captioned the video of the incident, saying that another man was also with the surfer at the time before both were hit by the waves.
“As the swell increased, two surfers were swept away from a large set, one breaking his leg rope before becoming caught in the rocks near the Twins,” Mr Morris wrote.
Bondi Rescue lifeguard Luke Faddy (pictured) rushed to the surfer’s aid when he saw the man struggling near the rocks before jumping into the water with nothing but his fins and a rescue tube over his shoulder
Waverly Council’s head of lifeguards, Bruce Hopkins, praised Mr Faddy’s efforts to rush to the surfer’s aid.
Mr Hopkins told Yahoo that beachgoers should not swim through the currents in such situations.
“The best thing you can do is swim actively where you are treading water,” Mr. Hopkins said.
“Don’t try to swim back to the beach.”
“It’s better if you just let yourself go, then you know which direction the water is taking you and go with the flow of the water.”
Mr Hopkins said the waves at Tamarama were very strong and surfers were often swept away by the force of the water.
Tamarama Beach is considered one of the most dangerous beaches in New South Wales due to its deep waters and huge waves that create powerful waves.
Several people died at the popular spot, including well-known publisher Matthew Richell, who was swept onto the rocks while surfing in 2014.
Surfers pulled his body from the water, but he could not be revived.