A Greek-Australian man from Sydney managed to save three young girls and their father from drowning, despite the fact that he did not know how to swim. When asked to describe his experience, Nick Papadopoulos said that he felt like a dog that had been thrown in the water; he moved instinctively.
Papadopoulos had gone fishing in the area of Carrum, where Patterson River meets Port Phillip Bay, when he heard someone screaming for help. It was a man and his three young daughters, aged two, four and ten.
Even though the 31-year-old did not know how to swim, he did not hesitate. He jumped in the water and started kicking, just like dogs do by instinct, he said. He approached the children, and with the help of someone passing by, he managed to save the children and their father.
“I got out to the older girl who was the furthest and when I was one meter away, asked her to swim towards me. She was just crying, ‘I’m dying, I’m dying, please help me’”, he said.
The area’s Lifeguard Association announced it was going to honor Papadopoulos for saving four people by teaching him how to swim. However, the association stressed that people who do not know how to swim should not attempt to save people from drowning, as they face a greater risk of drowning themselves.
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