Shoalhaven River drowning: dad and son save kids in river rescue

Woonona father and son Phil and Jarryd Green on Monday spoke of their efforts to help save two children after their father disappeared underwater in rapids on the Shoalhaven River.

The Greens were packing their car on Saturday at the end of their annual family trip, when they heard screams for help at the popular camping spot at Coolendel.

A 38-year-old Corrimal man had disappeared under murky, fast-flowing waters as he was trying to help his two children, who had got into trouble while riding an inflatable air mattress in the treacherous waters.

"I saw someone drifting in the rapids, and jumped in, swimming my hardest," 13-year-old Jarryd said.

"I just thought I had to save them."

Jarryd, a former member of Woonona Surf Life Saving Club, helped one of the children to safety, and a neighbour rescued the other.

"I told him to grab on, and I pulled him to shore," he said.

Jarryd said the boy was about eight years old.

"The river was really strong. We go down every year, and I haven't seen it that strong."

Mr Green said rescuers only saw the children struggling, as the father had already disappeared under the water.

They only realised the man was missing after his family calmed down and was able to say that the man had been in the water too.

"His wife said he was last seen on a mangrove island, hanging onto a tree," Mr Green said.

"It was chocolate-brown water. Me and the neighbours went around trying to find him, we were the first ones to start searching."

Mr Green said up to 30 onlookers simply watched as the family almost drowned.

"It's a bad spot. I've rescued someone from the water every time I've been down there," Phil said. "Nobody else helped. Nobody was paying attention."

Mr Green said people needed to be careful near the water.