Shock moment dad leaps from sea wall into torrent after toddler is swept away by huge wave & onlookers watch in horror

7 months ago 6

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THIS is the shocking moment a brave dad leaps into the water to rescue his young daughter who was swept away by a massive wave.

The toddler was walking along the seawall in North Wollongong with her dad when a huge wave swept her off her feet and into the rough sea.

The little girl can be seen walking along the seawall with her dad[/caption]

A huge way sweeps the toddler off her feet[/caption]

The girl’s dad quickly jumps over the rails and into the water[/caption]

The toddler can be seen barely staying afloat[/caption]

The area was hit by powerful winds the night before with major flood warnings in place, resulting in a horror sea storm.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the wave struck dragging the little girl into the torrent in front of horrified onlookers.

Her dad did not hesitate for a second and immediately climbed over the rails and jumped into the water to pull her out.

The man can be seen holding onto the toddler as he desperately fights to stay afloat.

Emergency services and a rescue helicopter rushed to the scene while bystanders threw buoys to help the pair.

Even though the pair were tossed across rocks, they were both fine.

One of those who helped rescue the pair, David Graham told 7News the dad was exhausted when they pulled him out of the water “but he never let go of that kid.”

Meanwhile, Melinda Graham was trying to console the girl’s mum who was “hysterical.”

In a Facebook post later, the woman thanked the rescuers branding them “heroes.”

A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance told Daily Mail the dad and daughter were taken to Wollongong Hospital to be treated for ingestion of minor amounts of water and small abrasions.

It comes after a British tourist died after he was swept out to sea by a huge wave in Spain during Storm Nelson.

The 62-year-old man was reportedly taking photos with his wife at an old fishing village named San Esteban de Pravia in Muros de Nalon when tragedy struck.

His body was found by a fire and rescue helicopter at around 2pm after he is believed to have fallen from the end of a breakwater.

A witness told El Comercio: “The man stood up for a moment to look at the waves and when he turned around to return to his wife, who had stayed further back, a wave dragged him away.”