- Chef rescued group of seven people who were pulled out to sea by strong rip
- Damien Martin was on a break when he saw the group struggling in the ocean
- Mr Martin pulled them all to safety, including five kids, on the NSW south coast
The brave chef who saved five children from drifting out to seat said he will always be haunted by the words of the young girl.
Damien Martin was on a work break when he spotted the children and two adults being pulled out by a riptide on the NSW south coast.
The rescuer said there were about 20 people on the rocks trying to help the group of seven who got stuck trying to cross Burrill Lake Inlet, Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The brave chef (pictured) who saved five children from drifting out to seat said he will always be haunted by the words of the young girl
Damien Martin saved five children from drifting out to seat said he will always be haunted by the words of the young girl (stock image)
Mr Martin jumped into the ocean to rescue the group, plucking a lady and young girl from the water first.
‘I ran around the rocks again and jumped in and pulled a younger girl out. That was a scary one. She was going down and not coming back up,’ he said.
‘I grabbed her and she was saying she just wanted to go home and she didn’t want to die…that makes you feel sick to your stomach. It is overwhelming.’
The chef managed to rescue the large group including a 43-year-old man who tried helping the swimmers but got stuck himself.
Mr Martin said the group were swept about 400 metres at speeds of up to 15 knots, according to the publication.
The brave rescuer said more signs were needed to warn swimmers of the dangers of the under tide.
Mr Martin was on a work break when he spotted the children and two adults being pulled out by a riptide on the NSW south coast (stock image)