Brandon Paenga-Amosa, the Wallabies star, recently entertained audiences during an interview where he downplayed his surf lifesaving abilities. This came in light of a serious incident at Coogee Beach, where he rescued a struggling swimmer. The occurrence, captured by the Stan Sport crew while Paenga-Amosa’s team, the Western Force, was in Sydney to face the NSW Waratahs, emphasised both his quick thinking and modest nature.
In a lighthearted moment post-match, Stan’s Michael Atkinson brought up Paenga-Amosa’s heroic act, prompting the player to joke about his lifesaving transformation, likening himself to celebrities such as David Hasselhoff and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Despite his humour, Paenga-Amosa admitted to feeling out of his depth, confessing, “I can barely swim,” thankful that the swimmer was in shallow water.
The incident attracted attention, with rugby figures like Tim Horan praising him for acting before the lifeguards arrived. Reflecting on the scene, Paenga-Amosa quipped about doing the lifesavers’ job for them, suggesting his new calling as a lifesaver. Acknowledging his past as a garbage collector and landscaper, he remarked on his unlikely journey to the Wallabies, having once been overlooked by representative teams during his youth.
As the interview continued, Olympic gold medallist Alicia Lucas commended his bravery, stating, “There’s two types of people: those that run into trouble and those that stay away,” highlighting Paenga-Amosa’s instinct to help. Remaining modest, the Auckland-born athlete reiterated he was merely in the right place at the right time, downplaying his actions and reflecting on the camaraderie within his team.
Overall, Brandon Paenga-Amosa’s humorous take on a serious situation showcases his character and courage, earning him admiration as a teammate and a hero in the eyes of the public.