Man saved from rip eager to find rescuer

Carl Lue would like to thank "Mr David" for saving his life at the weekend. Photo / George Novak

A swimmer rescued by a stranger after being caught in a rip at Mount Main Beach wants the chance to properly thank "the man who saved my life".

Carl Lue said he was swimming in the waves with his 13-year-old daughter on Saturday before he was dragged out, when a man only known to Carl as "David" spotted him in distress.

"This was my first experience with a rip and I tried to swim back. I began to panic and I cried for help and Mr David swam to me and dragged me back," said Mr Lue.

"I was nervous and scared when he led me back, I asked him what his name was and he said 'David.'"

He said David was walking along the beach with his family before he jumped in the water to save him.

"I don't know [how] Mr David could swim back to the beach even dragging me." A woman who was also walking along the shore happened to be a nurse and assisted Mr Lue, who suffered from a headache and swallowed "quite a bit of saltwater".

Mr Lue moved to Tauranga from China six months ago and is a small-business owner.

He hoped to find "David" to formally thank him and "wishes to ask him for a drink".

"You saved my life and I don't know how to express my thanks to you.

"I thank all the people [who] helped and supported me in this accident and do wish someday to meet Mr David again."