Steven Davey is being hailed a hero after one man died and six other males were rescued and taken to shore following a boating accident at Waniora Point, Bulli.
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Three of these men remain in critical condition following Sunday's "tragic accident".
Mr Davey was one of the first on scene and the first to dive under the capsized boat to try and rescue two men trapped underneath.
But the 39-year-old said the true hero was a fellow local surfer he knew only as Seb.
"Seb got four guys out. Whoever got saved, it was 100 per cent because of him. Whoever survived, they owe everything to him."
Witnesses also praised the "modest" Mr Davey, who was surfing with mates when he saw the boat approaching "too close to shore" before a "big set [of waves] overturned the boat".
"There was a few of us who came up from duck diving a wave and [the boat] was coming towards us," Mr Davey said.
"Three guys were in the upside down boat, and we were yelling at them to get off because it was going to get washed off into the rocks.
"One of them listened and swam to someone else with a board as we were still paddling towards them.
"The two others wouldn't get off, they must have been in shock. I kept on yelling 'are there any people inside'. It took them about a minute before they said yes.
"So I took my leg rope straight off and threw my board to my mate. I was the first one to try and get under."
The first time the father-of-two from Corrimal dived under he hit a "big canopy".
He then moved to the back of the boat and dove under and felt a body.
"I felt the body but I was still hesitant because I knew if I went up and under into the air pocket and a wave did come I'd probably get washed into the rocks with it.
"I tried a few more times. It was all a blur. The last time I went under is when the fuel got into my eyes and face and just overwhelmed me."
Fortunately an IRB crew came and with surfers tied a rope around the boat and moved it safely away from the rocks.
But the crew had life jackets on so couldn't get up and under the boat.
"This is where Seb stepped in and put goggles and flippers on before doing his thing and saving four big boys," Mr Davey said.
"Luckily there were so many people in the water who were able to help. Things could have gone much worse.
"Hopefully they pull through."
A "rattled" Mr Davey said he was in "excruciating pain' after the fuel got in under his wetsuit.
"It just started stinking, burning my whole body,' he said.
"I stayed as long as I could but then I started paddling in. It was excruciating when I took my [wetsuit] down.
"I don't even remember seeing everyone on the hill. I just ran past everyone and knew I just had to get in a shower."
He rushed to his mother's house nearby and the ambulance was called to treat him.
"The pain is gradually starting to ease now but at the time my whole crotch area was in intense pain."
Hundreds of curious people headed to the beach as news broke of the boating accident.
Woonona resident Trish McBride though had just finished her usual morning walk and was relaxing on the embankment when she noticed what looked like a "yellow boat floundering in the distance".
"I turned away for a second and then looked back and saw that it was on it's side," she told the Mercury.
"I couldn't believe it. It wasn't long before I heard sirens in the distance and commotion on the beach that I realised something bad had happened.
"I hope it's not as bad as I fear and everyone is okay."
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
