It was on the Thursday after Hurricane Fabian that Jonathon Trott and his six-year-old son were watching the surf at Horseshoe Bay.

"The surf was still really bad," he said. "No one should've been in the water."

But someone was. Minutes later a young girl ran up to the father and son, and pointed out to the water. "She alerted me," Mr. Trott said. "Her sister was in the water."

About 50 yards out Mr. Trott could see the girl's sister and their father. "The girl was screaming."

The pair were clearly in trouble but Hurricane Fabian had swept away any rescue devices that might have been left on the beach by the lifeguards, such as life preservers or the torpedo rescue devices.

"There was a lady sitting with a baby's rubber ring nearby and I snatched that and ran to the water," Mr. Trott said.

Time seemed to slow down as Mr. Trott struggled towards the swimmers.

"The pull. I've never felt a riptide like that. I can't even describe it to you.

"When I got to her she was very tired, actually sinking. She was about 50 yards away from her father.

"I put the ring over her and started to bring her in, telling her father I would be back. It was very difficult. I've never experienced anything like that in my life."

The pair were struck by two waves as they fought towards the beach, and Mr. Trott spotted a third one coming.

"I pushed her so she would ride on top of it and the wave pulled me back out," he said. "I heard my son screaming, 'Daddy, Daddy,' and I said I have to get back, I got my kid. This is not going to happen to me."

Mr. Trott fought his way back to shore, where the girl and her father, who had been rescued by three men on surfboards, had already been reunited.

"I'm a fit person," he said. Year-round he goes to Horseshoe Bay, several times a week, running and swimming. "Even when the water is 60 degrees.

"I don't know why I went to that beach and trained all year round but it paid off."