Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield was a timely saviour for a family caught in a heavy rip at Moggs Creek on Sunday morning, with the Geelong star detailing the "pretty hairy" situation.
Dangerfield was made aware of an exhausted family of three that were placed roughly 100m out from land and struggling in the water, with the 31-year-old residing on the beach with his family at the time.
A fellow local pointed out the family - which included an 11-year-old girl - to Dangerfield, who promptly paddled out to the trio on his surfboard.
Able to keep them afloat until lifeguards arrived, Dangerfield told The Herald Sun that the family were lucky for the fast response from the Fairhaven rescue team.
“I was just on the beach with the kids and a lady came over and said, “I think some people are struggling in the water”. It was a mum and daughter and another lady,” Dangerfield said.
“They were a fair way out to sea. I paddled out and we were there for 15 minutes. A helicopter flew over the top of us as we were trying to paddle back. They were holding onto my leg rope as we paddled back in.
"Then Sea Rescue from Fairhaven came up with jetskis and took them back in to the beach. It was a bit hairy. It was a decent swell so it was one of those things. It was pretty big surf, it was pretty hairy.
“They were out for a good half an hour and it took me a few minutes to get out, we paddled for 15 minutes trying to go laterally to the rip. They had been trying to paddle against it and they were buggered, they had paddled for a while. Then when I saw the chopper overhead I knew it would be all right.
"They were quite lucky, the young daughter was absolutely exhausted. If we didn't have those guys (lifesavers) there, it could have been far worse. They were very lucky.”
Thanks to the quick actions taken by Danger and volunteer lifeguards, Police revealed that the family had avoided any injuries after being attended to by paramedics.
Dangerfield and his family have resided in Moggs Creek since purchasing their property in May, 2016, having documented their illustrious home renovations on social media.
The 285-game moved to Geelong from Adelaide at the end of the 2015 season after eight seasons at West Lakes, having now amassed a decorated career across his AFL tenure.
The three-time best and fairest will enter his 15th season this year, opening his next campaign against Essendon on Saturday, March 19.
