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Soccer star’s ‘hero’ uncle tragically drowns on popular Sydney beach swimming to save two swimmers caught in a current: ‘He will never be forgotten for his actions’
- Talitiga Taupau, 44, tragically drowned in Cronulla on Saturday
- Father of six children tried to rescue two swimmers trapped in a current
- Uncle of NRL star Marty Tapau hailed ‘hero’, ‘never forgotten’
A man who drowned on a Sydney beach on Saturday while trying to save two strangers has been identified as the uncle of NRL star Marty Tapau.
Talitiga Taupau, a father of six, is remembered as a hero after swimming into a current at Shelly Beach in Cronulla in an attempt to save struggling swimmers.
As a swimmer in his 20s was making his way back to shore, Talitiga and another swimmer were found unconscious and pulled from the water by lifeguards.
Talitiga could not be saved and tragically died on the spot.
Talitiga Taupau (pictured) is being remembered as a hero after tragically drowning while trying to rescue two swimmers caught in a current in Cronulla.
The other man, who was in his 40s, is in critical condition after being under water for three minutes and was taken to St George’s Hospital for treatment.
The 44-year-old was the uncle of Martin Taupau, who was driving to Brisbane with his family ready to start training with the Brisbane Broncos when he was given the tragic news.
“It’s really sad that this happened, but he will never be forgotten for his actions,” Tapau said.
Surf Life Saving NSW Director of Life Saving, Joel Wiseman, told 9News that volunteer rescuers are under enormous pressure after numerous drownings in this state this summer.
“We are experiencing one of our busiest summers with large numbers of rescues, and our volunteers have put in a lot of effort to try to keep people safe along the coast,” he said.
“Despite the rising number of drownings, the volunteers and first responders should be very proud of what they have accomplished so far this summer.”
The 44-year-old uncle of NRL star Marty Taupau was pulled unconscious from the water and died on the spot.
NRL star Marty Taupau, 32, (pictured) told 9News his uncle “will never be forgotten for his actions”.
“There is a combination of factors that make this summer so deadly,” he added, “including people taking risks, alcohol consumption and crowded beaches that can lead beachgoers to seek unknown and unguarded places.”
“Rip currents remain the number one coastal hazard and all 14 coastal drowning deaths this summer occurred in unpatrolled locations.”
NSW Police are continuing to investigate in the area and will prepare a report for the coroner.
The patrolled area of the beach was closed for the rest of Saturday.
This latest drowning incident brings the number of New South Wales drowning deaths to 14 since December 1.