An Australian television weather man is being hailed as a hero after undressing and diving into dangerous waters on a local beach to retrieve a man’s body while cameras were still filming after a live broadcast moments before.
Luke Bradnam, anchor of Australian Channel Nine, was last week on Narrowneck Beach in Queensland, reporting on the treacherous water conditions when he was warned that a person could be fighting in the ocean.
That’s when Bradnam quickly got into the action.
“Just after getting off the air chatting with you, a move just behind here in Narrowneck alerted me that I thought I’d see someone out of the surf again,” a wet, shirtless Bradnam told his teammates. anchorage in the air after Friday’s Calvary.
“I immediately retired and ran with the boogie boarder to help the person in trouble,” Bradnam said.
Unfortunately, the man Bradnam ran into the waters to rescue did not survive.
“As we approached it became quite obvious that there was a body floating in the water and we were both able to secure the body and make our way … back to the shore,” the meteorologist said. to the spectators.
The body of the man Bradnam helped recover was believed to be a 32-year-old British citizen, Jake Jacobs, who moved to the Gold Coast from the UK and was missing on Thursday, according to News .com.au.
A search and rescue mission had been launched after the body of Jacobs’ swimming partner was found on Thursday afternoon, the UK’s Mirror reported. Police believe the couple went out swimming naked on Thursday.
Bradnam, meanwhile, described the situation as “quite distressing.”
The reporter told 9News.com.au that he hopes to “never experience it again.”
“In the heat of the moment, I thought it was someone’s son, who would end up with a bit of closure; we just have to do it,” said Bradnam, who dove into the waters despite having a wounded shoulder.
After the incident, many viewers turned to social media to promote Bradnam for his actions.
“Thank you for risking your lives to try to rescue another, and although the results were not what you expected a loved one to return with them.” Stuart Weaver tweeted.