Hero footy star Brandon Paenga-Amosa saves man from drowning at famous Sydney beach – despite admitting he can ‘barely swim’
Wallabies star Brandon Paenga-Amosa has saved a struggling man from drowning at Sydney’s famous Coogee Beach – despite admitting he can ‘barely swim’ himself.
The 29-year-old Western Force hooker performed the heroic act earlier this month while his Perth-based Super Rugby team were in the NSW capital to play the Waratahs.
He was quizzed about his lifesaving exploits on Stan Sport after the Force’s big win over the Fijian Drua on Sunday.
Video of the incident showed him dragging the man to safety on the sand after he got into difficulties in the surf.
‘I was just doing my thing, I just happened to be there, right place, right time,’ a modest Paenga-Amosa explained.
‘I can barely swim so thank god he wasn’t any deeper, mate, because I don’t think I would have got to him.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa went from footy star to lifesaving hero when he dragged a struggling swimmer out of the surf at Sydney’s Coogee Beach
‘I would have just given him a mana wave [Maori greeting] and said, ‘Good luck, mate’. Thank god it was only knee height.’
Wallabies legend Tim Horan asked where the beach’s lifesavers were during the frightening episode.
‘They got there, they looked at me, I looked at them, and I was like, ‘Mate, I’m doing your job for you, mate. Thirty [dollars] an hour and I’ll sign up’.
‘I’ll be honest with you, I just so happened to be there,’ he said.
‘I didn’t really necessarily run in.
‘He just kind of came past me and I said, “Brother, I got you, man”.’
Earlier in the interview, host Michael Atkinson asked if the star should now be called ‘Brandon Paenga-Hasselhoff’ in a reference to Baywatch star David Hasselhoff.
He replied, ‘Brandon Paenga-Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,’ who starred in the 2017 Baywatch movie.
The Wallabies and Western Force star (pictured running the ball) revealed he managed to save the man even though he’s a long way from being a strong swimmer himself
Paenga-Amosa made his first start for the Force in the match against the Waratahs.
He first burst onto the Super Rugby scene in 2018 with the Queensland Reds, going on to make 55 appearances for them before switching to French team Montpellier Herault in 2021, where he racked up 56 matches.
The Auckland product first starred for the Wallabies in 2018, playing in 16 matches for the green and gold.
Earlier this year he opened up about how having kids has changed the way he plays – for the better.
‘I feel like I’ve gone to another level with my game since becoming a dad,’ he said.
‘Both my daughters were born in France – they’re aged three and one – and their mum is amazing. She’s the force at home and she allows me to express myself on the field.
‘Naturally I’m a big overthinker and the parents out there can relate but when you have kids, you realise little things don’t matter as long as your kids are healthy and your partner is strong.
‘Being a dad has helped me push through the cloudiness that can come into your head. I’m less worried about everything in my game and can focus on the little things, move onto the next job more quickly.’
