A Filipino surfer hailed as a hero for saving a fellow competitor during a Southeast Asia Games (SEAG) contest won a gold medal on Sunday, even beating the rival he rescued on his way to glory. The 25-year-old managed to reach Nurhidayat after he lost his board in the swell, and the pair rode back to shore together on Casugay’s board. “He wasn’t drowning but he was floating away,” Casugay told Agence France-Presse by phone, adding it was possible the big waves could have pulled the Indonesian out to sea beyond rescue. There is no way of knowing what will happen.”Many thought Casugay might have blown his nailed-on gold medal after the incident on Friday, but the Filipino beat Nurhidayat in the pair’s semifinal clash on Sunday. In the gold medal contest against fellow Filipino Rogelio Esquivel he damaged his board, and briefly lost the lead.

Source: Manila Times December 08, 2019 19:02 UTC