Aussie pro surfer displays life-saving skills in daring beach rescue
Mikey Wright garners world-wide praise after saving struggling swimmer
At first Mikey Wright, like everyone else, didn't quite know what to make of the situation.
The Australian pro surfer had been calmly walking on a Hawaiian beach with his sister (women's World Surfing Champion Tyler Wright) and wife Shenay, when they noticed a beachgoer caught in the surf along Oahu's north shore.
"Oh no," cried a nearby voice,"...she's getting dragged out."
But, even as others raced to help, as footage posted by Wright on Instagram shows, he realized that he too might need to intervene.
WATCH | Australian surfer rescues beachgoer from strong Hawaiian currents:
With the waves dragging the woman farther out into the rough ocean waters, Wright tossed his phone to Shenay, uttering, "Going to need to be saved."
Undeterred as a voice around him yelled, "You can't save her," Wright flung his shirt aside, jumped a fence and darted off to the rescue.
As others kept filming, Wright can be seen navigating a series of rocks as he dived into the foamy chop. Shielding the woman with his own body from the crashing waves until, finally, managing to pull her to safety.
"Look, it was an intense situation," said Tyler, recounting the events to an Australian morning show on Jan. 1. "But he is a water man, this is what we have been doing since we were kids. We have surf life-saving skills"
Aussie surfing siblings Tyler and Mikey Wright have saved a woman's life in a dramatic rescue on Hawaii's north coast. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fsu8cphkbZ">pic.twitter.com/Fsu8cphkbZ</a>
—@TheTodayShowFollowing the rescue Wright posted his video on social media with the caption: "Hold my beer."
His sister was a little more colourful with her choice of caption: "Closing out 2020 with some hero s**t."
The world was quick to take notice with surfing legend Mick Fanning, among others, celebrating Wright's bravery: "Wow that could have ended really badly. Well done."
Wright and Tyler were in Hawaii for the Pipeline Masters event, held just before Christmas. Wright placed 17th in the event, while his sister won the first women's tour title at Hawaii's famed pipeline break.