Sam Taylor’s day took a dramatic and life-threatening turn when he attempted to help a lost dog near New Brighton Beach on the NSW far-north coast. After walking the dog to the beach to find its owner, Taylor found himself in the middle of a life-or-death situation when a panicked boy urgently told him that his friend was drowning. Taylor rushed into the water, but the dangerous rip currents overwhelmed him. Despite his efforts to reach the boy, the water pulled them apart, and Taylor feared for his life, feeling helpless as he struggled in the rip.
At that moment, 14-year-old Teo Martin, a seasoned surfer, noticed the commotion from the beach. After hearing that a friend was drowning, Teo immediately paddled into the surf. With his surfboard, Teo was able to rescue the boy from the rip, then returned to help Taylor, who was still caught in the dangerous current. By the time emergency services arrived, Teo had already completed both rescues.
The following day, Mr. Taylor’s wife took to social media to express their gratitude and find Teo, offering to buy him a new surfboard. Taylor acknowledged that without Teo’s quick thinking and bravery, he would have drowned, praising the young hero and his parents for raising such a remarkable child.